Bridging the Gap Between Provider and Pharmacy to Drive Patient Adherence to Therapy

Starting and staying on prescribed therapy is essential for achieving better health outcomes. Yet, many patients face obstacles that prevent them from following through with their treatments.

The Challenge of Patient Adherence 

Half of all patients in the U.S. have been prescribed at least one medication, but many struggle to follow their prescribed therapies. The numbers highlight a significant challenge: 

• 1 in 4 prescriptions is never picked up. 

• When out-of-pocket costs exceed $100, adherence drops sharply. 

So, how can you turn this challenge into opportunity? 

Timely by DrFirst

DrFirst, with its extensive experience in medication management, optimizes the medication journey from prescribing to adherence. Serving over 200,000 prescribers and processing over 500 million prescriptions annually, Timely by DrFirst has developed an end-to-end solution called Timely to tackle adherence challenges. 

Timely is designed to address all major adherence challenges by delivering personalized notifications to patients on behalf of healthcare providers. Using technology and personalization, Timely sends patients a link with: 

• Educational resources about their medications 

• Copay assistance to reduce financial burdens 

• Real-time updates on prescription status, such as prior authorization approval 

With Timely, patients receive a text message shortly after their provider sends an e-prescription, offering personalized information and support. This helps bridge the gap between the doctor’s office and the pharmacy, where many adherence barriers arise.

Addressing Barriers With Timely 

• Behavioral Barriers: When Life Gets Busy. Timely offers personalized reminders and convenient access to essential information, such as pharmacy location, helping patients stay on track and manage their therapy effectively.  
• Financial Barriers: High Costs. Timely connects patients to copay assistance programs, making cost-saving options readily available. For prescriptions that require prior authorization, Timely keeps patients updated on the status and provides information about how to get started with the medication if approval is denied. 
• Educational Barriers: Lack of Understanding. Timely delivers clear, easy-to-understand educational content customized to each patient’s needs. From instructional videos on using an inhaler to explanations of why a medication is essential, Timely empowers patients with the knowledge they need to confidently manage their therapy.
  

Why Timely Works: Key Benefits

• Personalization: Each patient receives information tailored to their specific needs. 

• Timing: Patients are engaged at the optimal moment—right after a prescription is written. 

• Scale and Reach: DrFirst’s vast network ensures Timely reaches millions of patients, supporting over 25% of new prescriptions in the U.S. 
  

The Results Speak for Themselves 

• 80% engagement rate: Patients interact with Timely messages at high rates. 

• 94% positive feedback: Patients find the service helpful and relevant. 

• Up to 10% increase in fill rates: Programs see a 3%-5% improvement on average, with many brands achieving higher results.
  
  
  

Turning Barriers into Opportunities 

Every barrier to adherence—whether behavioral, financial, or educational—represents an opportunity to provide better support. By addressing these challenges with an end-to-end solution like Timely, more patients will start and stay on therapy. 

Adherence isn’t just about getting patients to the pharmacy; it’s about supporting them throughout their medication journey. Personalized, timely, and effective engagement is key to breaking down barriers and improving health outcomes. 

To learn more about how Timely can help your organization or patients, reach out to the DrFirst team or watch the recent webinar for more information. Together, we can turn adherence challenges into opportunities for better health.