Parata Wins 2013 Caregiver Friendly® Award From Today's Caregiver Magazine

DURHAM, N.C., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Parata Systems, a leader in pharmacy automation, announced today it has been recognized by Today's Caregiver magazine as a 2013 "Caregiver Friendly^® Award" recipient. The awards recognize products, services, books and media created with the needs of caregivers in mind. Parata was recognized in the "Products" category for its Parata PASS™ (patient adherence strip system) packaging.

Parata PASS organizes medications into a strip of unit- or multi-dose pouches the way people take them: by date and time of day. The packaging is prepared and verified at a pharmacy that uses Parata PASS technology. The packaging makes it easier for patients to know when to take their next dose, and enables caregivers to manage multiple medications with ease at home, ensuring patients take their medications as prescribed, stay healthy and avoid hospital readmissions.

"A growing number of pharmacists are offering strip packaging to their patients, especially those managing chronic conditions," said Tom Rhoads, CEO of Parata. "Caregiving is a selfless and overwhelming job. Parata works with pharmacists across the country who use strip packaging to make it easier for caregivers to ensure patients take medications as prescribed."

About 20 percent of Medicare patients return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, a trend that costs taxpayers $17 billion a year and prompted healthcare regulations that penalize hospitals for readmissions. More post-discharge adverse events are related to medications than other causes. About half of patients don't take their medications as prescribed. (New England Healthcare Institute, 2009)

Today's Caregiver is the first national magazine published entirely for all family and professional caregivers, and has been in circulation for nearly two decades.

"The average caregiver is responsible for over $40,000 in health-related expenditures each year, in either personal or directed funds," said Gary Barg, Today's Caregiver magazine's editor-in-chief. "This award is designed to help family caregivers recognize and reward those organizations who will care for them in as committed a manner as they care for their loved ones."

Parata will be formally honored with the award on July 25 at the magazine's Fearless Caregiver Conference in Boca Raton, Fla. For more information about Today's Caregiver, please visit www.caregiver.com. To learn more about Parata PASS, go to www.parata.com.

About Parata
Parata is a trusted brand, providing intuitive pharmacy automation technology that enables pharmacists to improve accuracy, productivity, medication adherence, and patient health outcomes. Parata PASS™ organizes medications by date, time and dose in strip packaging that makes it easy for patients, caregivers and nurses to ensure they are taken at the right time, every time. Parata Max® and Parata Mini® ensure fast, accurate dispensing in vials. Pharmacy 2000™ workflow software extends accuracy across a pharmacy's entire prescription volume. Founded in 2001, Parata is based in Durham, N.C. To learn more, visit www.parata.com, [email protected], 888-PARATA1 (727-2821), Facebook or Twitter.

About The Caregiver Friendly Awards
Caregiver Friendly^® Awards are presented by Today's Caregiver magazine to celebrate outstanding books, media, products and services designed with the best interest of the family caregiver in mind. Today's Caregiver magazine, launched in 1995, is published by Caregiver Media Group, which also produces the Fearless Caregiver Conferences, www.caregiver.com and The Fearless Caregiver book, which teaches caregivers how to become their loved one's fearless advocates within the healthcare system.  

SOURCE Parata Systems