And now,a digital app to help people with vertigo

Meaningful innovation in the world of healthcare does not always have to mean a molecular discovery or a “light bulb” moment of change. It can be as simple as bringing improvements to existing medicines and services, or providing a better way to treat patients and improve their adherence to medication.

To do that, pharmaceutical companies must understand the needs of the people whom they are serving. For example, Abbott, the global healthcare company, uses insight-driven innovation that delivers more value to people who use their products or services. Through insights that they gather, they are able to identify and meet patients’ unmet needs beyond just providing the pill. As a result, patients follow their doctor-prescribed medication and ultimately attain better health outcomes.

This led to the Tummy Love initiative — a set of fun, educational materials such as storybooks, a video game app, and memorabilia. The storybooks address concerns related to childhood constipation and diarrhea using cartoon visuals that make it easy for the child to understand. Convincing the child to take medication effectively becomes less of a task for parents because of this fun and interactive tool.

Abbott’s digital platform dedicated to helping people with vertigo is also an innovative medium. It provides vertigo patients with a variety of information about this illness — from its causes to treatment and management. It also provides a helpful guide on proper exercise and diet, as well as first-aid tips. To give them better access to this guided information anytime and anywhere, the program also has a mobile app that can be downloaded for free. This channel complements the doctor’s efforts to better support their patients’ care and adherence to treatment.