The Missing Link in Whole-Patient Care: Brand-Specific Medication Adherence (That Works)

Hands holding a phone with an overlay of user experience images showing medication adherence features

March 18, 2025

reviewed by

It seems like every health company has an app these days, but that doesn’t mean they’re any good — for patients or for the bottom line. It is time to focus on meaningful, measurable outcomes rooted in improved treatment adherence.

‍

The reasons behind non-adherence are complex, spanning forgetfulness, medication costs, complex regimens, low health literacy, perceived lack of efficacy, and psychological factors. Addressing these barriers requires a multi-faceted approach: one rooted in behavioral truths that is also built upon technology that both anticipates and influences people’s engagement with their health. It’s a tricky problem. Just the kind we like to solve.

What Does the Next Wave of Digital Health Innovation Look Like?

‍

It seems like every health company has an app these days, but that doesn’t mean they’re any good — for patients or for the bottom line. Digital health is at a crossroads. Companies can keep building for building’s sake, but the reality is that the next wave of innovation has got to move beyond fancy interfaces and the simplest of patient engagement. It is time to focus on meaningful, measurable outcomes rooted in improved treatment adheres. Which is exactly what Sidekick does.

‍

At Sidekick Health, we know adherence is the linchpin of effective treatment. A patient’s ability to follow a prescribed care plan determines whether their condition stabilizes, improves, or worsens. Yet adherence remains one of the biggest challenges in healthcare, responsible for 15% of all healthcare spend¹. That’s why we focus on the way people actually engage with their health, rather than the way we hope they do. That focus is what enables us to build industry-leading adherence programs that set a new standard in digital therapeutics.

The Adherence Problem: A Barrier to Better Health

‍

Non-adherence is a critical issue across nearly all conditions. In oncology, for example, more than two-thirds of patients on long-term oral therapy fail to complete their treatment, compromising outcomes. Blue Health Intelligence’s May 2024 brief found that for GLP-1s, we see a 30% drop-off in 4 weeks and 58% drop-off before patients realize any clinical benefit. And, in chronic disease management, medication non-adherence contributes to unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits, driving up costs for both patients and healthcare systems.

‍

Multi-Condition Care + Brand-Specific Medication Adherence = A New Path for Whole Health

‍

Sidekick Health is pioneering the next wave of digital health innovation by tackling adherence through personalized, evidence-based programs. Our solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly into patients’ lives, delivering real-world impact by improving adherence and reducing healthcare utilization.

‍

We deliver our programs in two key ways:

Brand-Specific Adherence Programs – Developed in partnership with leading global Life Sciences companies, these programs enhance adherence by providing patients with tailored education, reminders, and support tools that focus on specific conditions and treatment plans.
Multi-Condition Programs for Health Plan Members – These programs help patients manage multiple chronic conditions with a holistic, personalized approach to self-care and adherence, all in one, unified member experience.

In 2025, we’re taking a significant step forward by integrating our brand-specific adherence programs into our multi-condition platform for health plans. This expansion allows us to provide a seamless, scalable solution that meets the needs of patients, payers, and life sciences organizations, driving better health outcomes and reducing costs.

Ready to launch brand-specific medication adherence for your health plan members?

Want to learn more about implementing digital-first health solutions?

Real-World Impact: Adherence That Drives Outcomes

‍

Our programs are designed to keep patients engaged and adherent throughout their treatment journey. Consider the success of our breast cancer program:

Retention & Engagement: 59% of users stay engaged after the first week, with 46% remaining active after 30 days—four to five times higher than industry benchmarks.²
Medication Adherence: 70% of users set up medication reminders, and over 90% self-report adherence to prescribed regimens.²
Improved Health Outcomes: Users who engage consistently with the program see improved symptom management, increased treatment persistence, and reduced healthcare utilization.²

Our impact extends beyond adherence. In a study with a leading national health plan in the U.S., Sidekick’s cancer program reduced emergency room visits by 33% and hospital admissions by 32% over 12 months.² These results underscore the potential of digital health solutions to enhance both patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.

Looking to The Future: Scaling Innovation with Research & Partnerships

‍

As we look ahead, Sidekick Health is doubling down on research and partnerships to further validate and expand our adherence-driven approach. In January, we launched a groundbreaking medication adherence study in Iceland focused on oral chemotherapy for oncology patients. This study will provide deeper insights into how digital interventions can optimize adherence in cancer care, setting the stage for future innovations.

A Smarter Path Forward for Digital Health

‍

Digital health is at a turning point. The next wave of innovation must prioritize real-world impact, leveraging medication-specific adherence as a key to more holistic and personalized care, better health outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs. At Sidekick Health, we are leading this charge—leveraging behavioral science, technology, and clinical expertise to transform patient care.

‍

By embedding digital adherence solutions into both life sciences partnerships and health plan programs, we are not only improving treatment outcomes but also redefining the role of digital health in the broader healthcare ecosystem. The future of healthcare is not just digital—it’s intelligent, personalized, and built for lasting impact.

‍

---

1. Pittman, T. (2018, November 20). Medication nonadherence increases health costs, hospital readmissions. Duke Health | Referring Physicians. https://physicians.dukehealth.org/articles/medication-nonadherence-increases-health-costs-hospital-readmissions#:~:text=Medication%20nonadherence%20among%20patients%2C%20particularly,billion%20in%20potentially%20avoidable%20spending

2. Sidekick Health. (2024). Improving medication adherence for patients with breast cancer [White paper]. Sidekick Health. www.sidekickhealth.com/deep-dive/improving-medication-adherence-for-patients-with-breast-cancer

‍