Case Study: Independence, Dignity, and Safety in Palliative Medication Management with a Connected Device.

In palliative care, managing pain and symptoms often means relying on as needed (PRN) medications. These medicines are essential, but they sometimes come with strict dosage limits to prevent harm. For many patients, that means depending on nurses or carers to administer doses — a process that can take away independence and place extra strain on staff.

At Hark Medical, we wanted to know: could technology help bridge the gap between safety and autonomy?

The Trial

Together with TLC Aged Care, we trialled Sasha, our connected medication management device, with a resident receiving palliative care. Over 90 days, Sasha stored pharmacist-packed sachets of the resident’s prescribed S8 PRN medication.

Here’s how it worked:

• The doctor prescribed electronically, the pharmacist packed and dispensed, and staff loaded the sachets into Sasha.

• When the resident needed a dose, he authenticated with his fingerprint.

• Sasha released the correct medication, tracked every request and dose in real time, and kept the care team in the loop.

  
  

The Results

The trial showed that Sasha could uphold the same standards of vigilance as nursing staff — while giving the resident more independence.

• Safety protected: Sasha blocked 99 unsafe requests outside prescribed limits, reducing the risk of overdose or error.

• Better symptom control: Repeated requests outside parameters triggered automatic alerts to the care team, prompting timely medication reviews.

• Person-centred care: The resident could manage his own pain relief safely and with dignity, while staff had clear oversight and more time to focus on other aspects of care.

  
  

Why It Matters

By integrating prescribing, dispensing, administration, and tracking into one connected system, Sasha streamlined the whole process of medication management. For the patient, this meant independence, dignity, and timely symptom relief. For TLC Aged Care, it meant governance, compliance, and reduced demand on carers and staff.

This case study is a powerful example of how technology can enhance quality of life at the end of life — making care not only safer, but more person-centred. And when done right, it can help someone live, and pass, with dignity.