Health QR, the Halifax startup whose mobile app helps patients improve success with their medical prescriptions, launched its product in a reception at the Volta startup house last night.

As well as launching the product, the two-year-old company is spreading its wings. CEO Patti Ryan is taking it through the Canadian Technology Accelerator in Philadelphia, which specializes in health-related IT companies. And she is spending more time in Ontario with the healthcare community surrounding McMaster University in Hamilton.

Dartmouth-based Compass Pharmacies, which owns seven outlets, is the initial adopter and the company is in talks with other chains.

Health QR provides customers with a mobile app that helps them to manage their prescriptions. It reminds them when to take their drugs, when they should refill, and tells them why the drugs are important. The free mobile app, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play, connects securely to participating pharmacies.

“With the launch of Health QR, we are taking a small first step by providing people access to their medication information,” said Ryan.

One of the key features of the app is it reminds patients to take their medication. Non-adherence to instructions is a big problem in the pharma and healthcare industries. Half of all patients are said to not complete their prescriptions. It costs the United States health system an estimated $188 billion each year, according to a 2012 consultants’ report.

Health QR sends reminder to the patients, and if they choose not to take their meds it records why. It keeps data on the adherence rate so the patient can share it with the physician.

Individuals can receive notifications about their prescriptions and reminders when refills are due.