Wellframe Expands Partnership With McLean Hospital to Deliver Pioneering Support Model for Mental Illness

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - October 08, 2014) - Wellframe, a Boston-based company that enables health plans and providers to better manage risk and amplify existing support resources, announced today that the organization has successfully completed an important and promising study with McLean Hospital. The study piloted a new support model for people with severe and persistent mental illness, including schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder. The new interactive model, designed with Wellframe by clinicians and peer staff at McLean's Waverley Place Community Support Program, was delivered to members of the program using Wellframe's Intelligent Care Management Platform. Upon successfully completing the study, Wellframe and McLean entered an agreement to expand the pilot into a second phase with McLean's "On Track" program for patients with first onset of illness, which will launch in the fourth quarter of 2014.

"We are delighted that Wellframe worked with us and with Waverley Place members to develop the technology used in this first project. Our members found the solution to be very useful, and the result has been the development of a wonderful tool to support our members, as they work towards productive lives in the community," said Dost Öngür, Chief of the Psychotic Disorders Division at McLean.

McLean's pioneering peer-led community support program, piloted in the study, reframes the treatment of mental illness and aims to assist program members holistically and proactively, rather than simply addressing symptoms as they arise. The program empowers members by not only addressing mental health symptoms with prescribed therapeutics, but also by encouraging physical exercise, supportive relationships, rewarding activities and interaction with a community of peers.

McLean partnered with Wellframe to deliver the program to members through Wellframe's Intelligent Care Management Platform, which utilized its care automation engine to deliver the holistic care protocol in an easy to follow "daily health checklist." Additionally, through Wellframe, members were able to engage on a daily basis and at any time with peer counselors who provided them with emotional support and guidance as needed.

"McLean's model addresses a very important problem," said Trishan Panch, MD, MPH, Wellframe Chief Medical Officer. "In the old model, people who suffered from severe and persistent mental illness would lose hope, as they were told this was something that they would simply have to manage for the rest of their lives. The recovery model reframes the treatment delivered, and lets people know that recovery is possible with daily support and a structured care plan that includes physical activity and education. We're very pleased that Wellframe has the opportunity to deliver this groundbreaking program, and make it more accessible to those that need it."

By utilizing Wellframe, McLean was able to augment their program's care management resources, thereby amplifying the efforts of staff and enhancing the overall impact of the support delivered. The daily interactions facilitated through Wellframe between members and peer counselors also led to a significant increase in program engagement and increased feelings of emotional support in members.

McLean's model was presented at a dedicated symposium at the American Psychiatric Symposium in 2013 by Dost Öngür, MD, PhD, Director of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders Program at McLean and Trishan Panch, MD, MPH, Wellframe Chief Medical Officer. The full results of the pilot have been prepared for publication and will be available at a later date. The second phase of the pilot, due to be launched in the fourth quarter, will expand on the services delivered to patients, and will be offered to all patients attending McLean's first episode psychosis program called, "On Track."

To learn more about Wellframe's Intelligent Care Management Platform, please visit http://www.wellframe.com.

About Wellframe

Wellframe is a Boston-based Health Technology company that enables risk-bearing entities to better understand and proactively manage risk. Wellframe partners with leading health plans, providers and other healthcare stakeholders to extend the reach of care management services to support patients toward improved experience, care plan adherence and health outcomes. Wellframe's team is comprised of world class engineers, data scientists and clinicians focused on reorganizing healthcare resources around needs of patients.

For more information on Wellframe, visit http://wellframe.com.

About McLean

McLean Hospital is the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a member of Partners HealthCare. For more information about McLean, visit mcleanhospital.org or follow the hospital on Facebook or Twitter.