#Japan #Kyoto #Wing Arc #Monaka-ya #Care Monster

Monaka-ya Partners in AMED's Groundbreaking Home Care Project

In a significant development for home care services in Japan, Monaka-ya, headquartered in Kyoto, has announced its participation in a pioneering project led by Care Monster, which is based in Ishikawa. This initiative falls under the auspices of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and aims to construct and evaluate a comprehensive home care DX package model that integrates monitoring, chat systems, and business intelligence (BI) collaboration.

With the collaboration of Care Monster's extensive knowledge of home care and Monaka-ya's expertise in AI and data utilization, the project seeks to alleviate the burdens faced by caregivers while simultaneously enhancing the quality of care. Additionally, the project will incorporate specialized support from Wing Arc 1st, a company renowned for its data platform expertise. This partnership is designed to push the boundaries of existing technologies and methodologies used in home care.

Addressing the Challenges of Home Care

The execution of a high-quality home care system, as promoted by the government’s regional comprehensive care system, necessitates tight interprofessional coordination. However, real-world conditions reveal a stark shortage of personnel and a lack of real-time information sharing among caregivers, which results in a significant barrier often termed as the 'information divide.'

Inefficient communication methods utilizing phones, faxes, and paper documentation contribute to issues such as redundant care, miscommunication, delays in emergency responses, and increased workloads for caregivers. To combat these challenges, the project intends to leverage digital technology to connect fragmented information and deliver high-quality care grounded in robust data insights.

Overview of the Package Model Development

In order to simultaneously address the problems of 'information divide' and 'delayed anomaly detection' in home care, the research development will yield a comprehensive package model encompassing the following elements:

1. Integration with Monitoring Systems
Monaka-ya will focus on the development of “(tentative name) Mieruto for Home Care” and “Hakaru-to.” The first element involves the integration of advanced monitoring equipment that continuously tracks various metrics of the user, such as sleep patterns, heart rate, and respiration. This early detection system aims to identify subtle changes rather than waiting for urgent situations, enabling proactive caregiving.

2. Data Analysis and Information Sharing Platform
The “(tentative name) Mieruto for Home Care,” developed by Monaka-ya, will serve as a central hub where monitoring data and care records are aggregated and visualized. This platform enables caregivers to notice changes in the user's condition proactively, fostering swift information sharing among multi-disciplinary teams and families, as well as assisting in the optimal creation of care plans. In addition, it features connectivity with chat tools to ensure streamlined communication.

3. Time Study Application “Hakaru-to”
Monaka-ya's “Hakaru-to” application is designed to objectively measure and visualize the time invested in documentation and information sharing. The customizations tailored for this project will accurately assess the efficiencies gained from the implementation of the DX package model.

Structure of the Demonstration Project and Future Prospects

This venture will be driven by a consortium, with Care Monster acting as the primary organization, supported by Monaka-ya for system development and Wing Arc 1st for data platform development. Participating caregiving institutions nationwide will also contribute to the practical experiments.

Care Monster will manage the entire project and facilitate the integration of the advancements at the ground level, while Monaka-ya will function as a technical development partner.

Through this practical demonstration, the project intends to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the effectiveness of efficiency improvements, including reductions in time spent on documentation and information sharing. Ultimately, the goal is to disseminate the established DX model widely across Japan’s home care providers, thereby enhancing the quality of life for users and contributing to a sustainable caregiving system.

About Care Monster

Founded on June 16, 2018, Care Monster operates out of Komatsu City, Ishikawa, providing consulting and support services to medical and welfare providers.
Learn more about Care Monster

About Wing Arc 1st

Established in March 2004 and headquartered in Roppongi, Tokyo, Wing Arc 1st focuses on empowering businesses through data-driven solutions. Their products promote operational efficiency and decision-making using advanced data analysis tools.
Discover Wing Arc 1st

Media Contact

For additional media inquiries, please reach out to Monaka-ya’s public relations officer, Kamada, via the contact methods available on their website. Past press releases can also be found online.