Letran SHS Students Develop Innovative Tool for Medication Management

A team of senior high school students from Colegio de San Juan de Letran has developed an innovative device to help individuals take their medications on time and correctly. The invention, called DoseRx Medivance, was inspired by their personal experiences caring for elderly family members who struggle with medication management.

Grade 12 STEM students Paulo Benedict Mendoza, John Marcel Estillore, Alyssa Gael Aquino, and Veronica Flores designed the device to assist those who may forget their medication schedules, particularly elderly individuals who live alone or have difficulty keeping track of their prescribed doses. The idea stemmed from their experiences with their grandparents, who needed reminders to take their maintenance medications.

Flores, one of the developers, shared that her grandfather lives alone in Pampanga, making it difficult for their family to ensure he takes his medicine on time. Hiring a caregiver was too costly, so she and her team brainstormed ways to provide a technological solution to this problem.

Similarly, Estillore observed how his grandmother struggled with managing her medications. He recalled seeing a large cardboard chart in her room with written schedules for each medicine. This sparked their decision to focus on healthcare technology, particularly on creating a system to assist elderly individuals with their medication intake.

DoseRx Medivance is a compact and travel-friendly medication dispenser that operates based on a schedule set through a mobile application. The device has four magnet-powered chambers that automatically open at pre-set times, ensuring users take their medications as prescribed. Additionally, it is equipped with sensors that detect whether a chamber contains medicine, preventing missed doses.

The development process for the device took over a year, beginning in June 2024. Throughout this period, the team refined the prototype, improving its portability, functionality, and ease of use. The app interface is designed to allow users or caregivers to input medication schedules, making the process seamless and efficient. Aquino emphasized that their goal is to ensure that the software and hardware components work together smoothly to provide a reliable medication management system.

The students’ hard work and dedication to solving real-world problems have not gone unnoticed. Their project has gained recognition in the tech innovation space, allowing them to compete and win awards in several prestigious competitions, including PacketHacks, Hackathon, and ImagineGovPH in 2024. These achievements highlight the impact and potential of DoseRx Medivance, demonstrating its ability to address a crucial need in healthcare.

Looking forward, the team aims to further enhance DoseRx Medivance by improving its features, expanding medication storage capacity, and optimizing the app’s functionality. They are also considering ways to make the device more affordable and accessible to a broader audience, particularly families who cannot afford professional caregivers.

This project showcases how young innovators can use technology and creativity to solve practical, real-world problems. By addressing medication adherence challenges, DoseRx Medivance has the potential to significantly improve the lives of elderly individuals and others who require regular medication. The success of this invention is a testament to the students' ingenuity, determination, and commitment to making a positive impact on healthcare technology.



Source: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/939654/letran-shs-students-create-tool-to-assist-in-taking-medications/story/