IBM and Otsuka Pharmaceutical announced their partnership to develop a new solution that aims to assist providers and communities to reduce hospital readmissions and re-incarcerations.
The solution, which is expected to improve care coordination in the mental health community, is designed to connect providers of mental health services including system leaders, payers, community mental health centers, hospitals, criminal justice systems, and social program organizations.
IBM said it is expected to help create more comprehensive patient health records. Customized to meet the unique needs of each community that uses it, the focus across users will remain on improving the quality and efficiency of patient care.
The companies will initially work with communities across the U.S. and the U.K., with the intention to expand internationally. Both companies contribute resources and expertise to make the solution successful.
IBM brings information management and care coordination software, as well as strategic consulting in smarter care, and Otsuka, a big venture healthcare company, contributes a deep understanding of neuroscience, the mental healthcare industry and delivery system dynamics.
“Our hope is that by providing the right infrastructure to connect all the providers in the system, patients will receive more holistic care,” said Karen Parrish, vice president of industry solutions in IBM’s Software Group. “Our focus is on applying technology to make healthcare smarter.”
Since 2012, Otsuka has been collaborating with the South Florida Behavioral Health Network in Miami-Dade County to pilot a comprehensive solution aimed at improving the coordination of care. This ongoing community-based project marks the first application of the new solution from IBM and Otsuka. It uses custom-developed software and change management expertise to support the transformational efforts underway in South Florida.
