Otsuka, IBM to develop transformative care coordination solution

The new solution is aimed at helping providers and communities reduce hospital readmissions and re-incarcerations as well as help create more comprehensive patient health records.

As of now, almost 10% of patients discharged from a state psychiatric hospital in the US are readmitted within 30 days, and over 20% more are readmitted within 180 days.

In the US, the cost of re-incarceration of persons who suffer from severe mental illness is $15bn.

The new solution 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.

Customized to meet the needs of each community that uses the new solution, the focus across users will remain on improving the quality and efficiency of patient care.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization president of global commercialization and portfolio management Dieter Weinand said, "Together with IBM, we aim to help transform the mental healthcare system, optimize the use of scarce resources more effectively, and improve the care and quality of life for society’s most vulnerable populations."

Under the deal, the parties will initially work with communities across the US and the UK, with the intention to expand internationally.

The deal will see IBM bring sophisticated information management and care coordination software, as well as strategic consulting in smarter care, while Otsuka will provide a deep understanding of neuroscience, the mental healthcare industry and delivery system dynamics.

The new technology platform will help improve utilization management, including eligibility, enrollment and consent; care coordination across clinical and social programs settings; insights into patient risk factors, crisis onset, crisis patterns, and costs; patient engagement in care management plan; and organizational change management support.