#Japan #Tokyo #Kakehashi #NeoX #Pocket Musubi

Introduction

In a bid to enhance pharmacy operations and patient experience, NeoX Corporation, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, has partnered with Kakehashi Co., Ltd. This collaboration focuses on utilizing the patient follow-up system, Pocket Musubi, which automates prescription input through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

What is Pocket Musubi?

Pocket Musubi is a patient follow-up system accessed via the LINE application, designed to foster a positive pharmacy experience. It allows pharmacists to monitor patients' medication adherence through features such as the medication follow-up function and the prescription image submission feature. By enabling patients to send prescription images before their visit, it reduces wait times at pharmacies, thereby enhancing overall customer satisfaction.

The Technology Behind the Partnership

NeoX's flagship technology, Yakushimaru Kenta, an AI-OCR (Optical Character Recognition) service, seamlessly integrates with Pocket Musubi. This technology automatically processes prescription images sent through Pocket Musubi, extracting essential data and inputting it directly into the pharmacy's reimbursement computer (Rekon). This eliminates the need for manual data entry, thereby streamlining pharmacy workflow significantly.

Implementation and Operational Start Date

Following a successful test phase in selected stores, the formal launch of this collaboration commenced on May 13. During the test period, both Welcia Pharmacy and Comprehensive Medical implemented the new operational scheme, receiving positive feedback from their staff. They acknowledged a significant reduction in manual tasks, allowing them to focus on direct patient care.

Key Benefits

The collaboration optimizes the pharmacy work process and addresses mutual goals of reducing the administrative burden on staff and minimizing patient wait times. Key benefits of this integration include:

• - Time Savings: Prescription images received via Pocket Musubi can be processed instantly without the need for printing or manual entry.
• - Accuracy Improvement: The AI system enhances the accuracy of data entry by reducing human errors associated with manual input.
• - Focus on Patient Interaction: Pharmacists can devote more time to patient engagement and counseling, providing a higher quality of care.

Positive Reception from Test Implementations

Feedback from pharmacy teams involved in the initial rollout has been overwhelmingly favorable. Pharmacists reported:

• - Simplified Operations: Staff members expressed relief over the removal of previous complexities in processing prescriptions, which required printing or scanning. They enjoy the newfound efficiency.
• - Enhanced Reading Accuracy: Many noted that the quality of the prescription images is significantly better under this system, resulting in minimal reading errors.

Future Outlook

Both NeoX and Kakehashi plan to continue enhancing the collaboration to further promote digital transformation (DX) in the pharmacy industry. By simplifying operations, they aim to cultivate an environment where pharmacists can concentrate on what matters most – the health and satisfaction of their patients.

Conclusion

As these technologies advance, NeoX, through its collaboration with Kakehashi, demonstrates a commitment to adapting and innovating pharmacy practices. They are not only focused on the efficiency of operations but also on elevating the patient experience, ultimately leading to a more effective healthcare ecosystem across Japan.

Company Profiles:

Kakehashi, Inc.

Established: March 30, 2016
Location: 2 Chome-8-6 Nishishinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo
Website: kakehashi.life

NeoX, Inc.

Location: Shibuya City, Tokyo
CEO: Sho-Ben Kaji
Business Focus: Development and provision of AI solutions for the medical and pharmacy sectors
Website: neox-inc.com