Memorial Healthcare System partners with DrFirst to deploy population health technology for medication adherence in diabetes care

Memorial Healthcare System has launched a comprehensive population health-driven medication management program in partnership with DrFirst, a healthcare IT pioneer whose solutions are used by more than 350,000 prescribers across the U.S. and Canada. The initiative aims to address one of the most persistent challenges in chronic disease management—medication non-adherence—by combining real-time prescription fill data with targeted clinical interventions for patients living with diabetes.

The program leverages DrFirst’s intelligent medication management technology to identify patients at risk of non-adherence or polypharmacy, enabling Memorial Healthcare System’s pharmacy care teams to intervene early, optimize therapy, and close care gaps. The launch builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between the two organizations, during which DrFirst’s medication history tools have been used to improve access to timely, accurate medication data and support safer, more informed prescribing.

Why medication non-adherence remains a costly national challenge

Medication non-adherence in the U.S. is a well-documented public health issue, linked to up to 69% of hospital admissions, nearly 125,000 deaths annually, and as much as $300 billion in avoidable healthcare costs, according to various industry estimates. Barriers range from high out-of-pocket expenses and complex medication regimens to a lack of understanding about the importance of prescribed therapies.

In chronic conditions such as diabetes, non-adherence can have severe consequences, including increased risk of complications, higher hospitalization rates, and reduced quality of life. Diabetes alone affects more than 38 million Americans, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects the condition will continue to drive a substantial portion of U.S. healthcare expenditure, which exceeded $4.5 trillion in 2022.

Industry analysts note that healthcare systems are increasingly turning to population health strategies—integrating data, analytics, and coordinated care models—to tackle non-adherence. This approach reflects a broader shift from volume-based care to value-based models, where providers are incentivized to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

How the Memorial–DrFirst program works

Under the new program, Memorial Healthcare System will provide comprehensive medication management services to more than 1,100 patients with diabetes. The initiative is integrated into the system’s Epic electronic health record, giving clinicians streamlined access to DrFirst’s real-time prescription fill data at the point of care.

Pharmacy care teams will use this data to flag patients who are late in refilling prescriptions or who may be taking multiple medications that increase the risk of adverse interactions. Once identified, these patients will be engaged through telehealth consultations and digital communication tools, allowing care teams to address barriers such as affordability, regimen complexity, or side effects.

The program’s design also incorporates a proactive intervention model. Rather than responding to acute health crises after they occur, clinicians can act before complications arise—reducing hospitalizations and improving long-term disease management.

Leadership perspectives on proactive care

Dovena Lazaridis, PharmD, Director of Ambulatory and Population Health Pharmacy Services at Memorial Healthcare System, emphasized that the initiative moves care from reactive to proactive. “By developing programs that serve high-risk patients, we improve access, optimize therapy, and support adherence—driving meaningful outcomes and building a healthier community,” she said. Lazaridis added that using timely and comprehensive medication history data is critical for preventing avoidable hospitalizations in high-cost chronic diseases like diabetes.

DrFirst CEO Laizer Kornwasser echoed the importance of timing and precision. “When you can identify which patients are drifting off course with their medications—and intervene before complications arise—you transition from reactive to proactive care,” he said, noting that this is where data intelligence and clinical execution intersect.

The broader market for population health technology

The population health management market is projected to reach $87 billion by 2030, according to Global Market Insights, driven by rising chronic disease prevalence, healthcare cost pressures, and policy shifts favoring value-based care models. Medication management solutions, particularly those integrated into electronic health records, are a growing subset of this market.

DrFirst, founded in 2000, has positioned itself as a leader in this space. Its technology suite supports e-prescribing, medication reconciliation, clinical messaging, and patient engagement. By embedding its tools into existing workflows, the company reduces the friction healthcare providers face in adopting new systems.

Memorial Healthcare System’s decision to deepen its partnership with DrFirst also aligns with a wider trend among U.S. health systems: leveraging long-standing vendor relationships to scale proven solutions rather than starting from scratch with new platforms.

Historical context and the shift toward digital adherence monitoring

Historically, medication adherence initiatives relied heavily on manual follow-up, pharmacy reports, or patient self-reporting—all methods prone to delays and inaccuracies. Over the past decade, advances in healthcare IT have allowed providers to access near real-time pharmacy data, enabling interventions within days rather than months.

Memorial Healthcare System has been part of this evolution since first implementing DrFirst’s medication history tools nearly ten years ago. This integration laid the groundwork for the new program, demonstrating that consistent access to accurate medication data can support both individual patient care and larger population health objectives.

Expansion plans beyond diabetes

While the program’s initial focus is on diabetes, Memorial Healthcare System plans to extend its Population Health Pharmacy services to other high-burden chronic conditions, including hypertension, high cholesterol, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Each of these conditions carries substantial risk when patients are non-adherent to prescribed medications, and all are significant drivers of hospital admissions and healthcare spending.

By scaling its approach, the health system aims to replicate early successes from the diabetes initiative across a broader patient population, potentially creating measurable impacts on health outcomes and cost savings.

Market sentiment and potential implications

Healthcare technology analysts suggest that Memorial’s model could become a blueprint for other large health systems seeking to improve adherence rates without significantly expanding clinical staff. By integrating adherence monitoring into existing EHR platforms, organizations can avoid the high onboarding costs associated with standalone systems.

Some investor commentary points to the potential for companies like DrFirst to benefit from the growing demand for adherence-focused solutions, especially as payers and providers face mounting pressure to meet value-based care targets. While DrFirst is privately held and not subject to stock market valuation swings, the broader digital health sector has seen increased private equity and venture capital interest, particularly in companies offering proven ROI in cost avoidance and readmission reduction.

Expected developments and measurement of success

Memorial Healthcare System’s clinical pharmacy team will monitor the program’s effectiveness over the coming months, tracking metrics such as refill adherence rates, hospital readmissions, and patient-reported satisfaction. Findings will be shared through research publications, adding to the evidence base for data-driven medication management.

Analysts expect further collaborations between health systems and healthcare IT providers in this space, with a growing emphasis on predictive analytics that can identify adherence risks before they manifest in refill delays. As competition intensifies, providers may also seek partnerships that combine medication data with social determinants of health insights to address root causes of non-adherence.