From Mifune Town, Kumamoto Prefecture | Adoption Rate Jumps from 4% to 60% in Six Months, 88% Including Planned Introductions
TRAPE Co., Ltd. successfully implemented a DX promotion project in Mifune Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, significantly increasing the adoption rate of the Care Plan Data Linkage System from 4% to 60% in six months, reaching 88% including planned introductions. This initiative contributes to the national digital infrastructure development amidst an aging population and a shortage of nursing care personnel.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 06:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 21:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 08:25 (10h 53m after Collected)
TRAPE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Kamata) has been involved in national policy-making since 2017, including the creation of guidelines for improving productivity in nursing care settings, leading the transformation of the nursing care sector. The company provides "Productivity Improvement-kun®," a free online tool that supports "team building" and "visualization/analysis of issues" essential for operational improvement and DX in nursing care, aiming to create nursing care facilities brimming with well-being. It also offers "Sociwell," a hands-on support service that simultaneously achieves "productivity improvement," "job satisfaction improvement," and "leader development."
Recently, the company was commissioned by Yamato Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, for the "FY2025 Mifune Town Care Plan Data Linkage Utilization Promotion Model Region Development Project." In this project, TRAPE promoted the introduction of the system to nursing care facilities within the town and measured its effects at three model facilities.
While the demand for nursing care services is increasing due to the rapidly aging population, the shortage of nursing care personnel due to population decline is becoming severe, making productivity improvement in nursing care service facilities an urgent issue.
In this context, the government is promoting the introduction of the "Care Plan Data Linkage System," which allows documents to be sent and received online, to reduce the burden of "paper sorting" and "manual data entry" associated with monthly care plans and performance reports. However, adoption and utilization have not progressed sufficiently due to reasons such as "neighboring facilities not having introduced it," "unclear benefits," "seems difficult to introduce and operate," and "lack of understanding from management."
Therefore, this project implemented a hands-on model initiative to provide integrated support to nursing care facilities in the town, from system introduction to operational establishment.
As a result, concrete achievements were made, such as a significant increase in the town-wide adoption rate and a reduction in workload at the model facilities. This release reports the details of these achievements.
**Promotion and Importance of the Care Plan Data Linkage System**
Currently, manual methods such as hand delivery and mail are common for exchanging documents between nursing care facilities. This administrative work becomes "indirect work" that deprives nursing care staff of time they should be dedicating to "direct care for users," placing a significant burden on the front lines.
The "Care Plan Data Linkage System" was devised as a mechanism to solve this problem and complete document exchange online. The government has set a national target of a 30% system adoption rate for local governments, but as of October 2025, it remained below 10%.
Subsequently, efforts for widespread adoption have progressed, and as of March 2026, the adoption rate has improved to 28.2%, but further promotion is still required.
Furthermore, this system plays a crucial role in the "Care Information Infrastructure" that the government is currently promoting, which unifies care, medical, and administrative information. The introduction of the system by each facility is a prerequisite for accumulating and utilizing care plan data in this infrastructure.
In other words, the Care Plan Data Linkage System is not merely a tool for operational efficiency but an indispensable part of the digital infrastructure that will support the future long-term care insurance system, making its introduction essential for all facilities.
**About the FY2025 Mifune Town Care Plan Data Linkage Utilization Promotion Model Region Development Project**
■ **Project Content**
* Holding business briefing and demo experience sessions.
* Support for introduction and utilization for nursing care facilities in the town (4 practical training sessions, individual consultations).
* Effect verification at model facilities (work inventory, time study).
* Dissemination of best practices through results reporting sessions.
■ **TRAPE's Involvement in this Project**
TRAPE provided comprehensive support from system introduction to its establishment as a regional "surface" solution, not just "point" support such as introduction assistance or operation explanations.
① **Building a robust support foundation to prevent "frustration" at the front lines**
Visual "Practical Guides" were created and distributed for all facilities in the prefecture, allowing even those unfamiliar with computer operations to proceed without hesitation. Additionally, four online training sessions were held to provide an environment for step-by-step learning. Furthermore, a call center was established to immediately answer individual questions via phone or email, thoroughly providing hands-on support to ensure steady progress.
② **Deployment of persistent outreach by a "one team" of administration, model facilities, and TRAPE**
To maximize the value of the system, the administration, model facilities, and TRAPE in Mifune Town formed "one team" to promote its adoption. The model facilities, which had introduced the system early, became regional hubs, engaging in persistent outreach to nearby facilities with whom they had actual transactions, encouraging them with phrases like "Let's use it together, it will make things easier for both of us!" This was supported by administrative backing (e.g., frequent encouragement for adoption) and TRAPE's hearings and follow-up support.
Recently, the company was commissioned by Yamato Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, for the "FY2025 Mifune Town Care Plan Data Linkage Utilization Promotion Model Region Development Project." In this project, TRAPE promoted the introduction of the system to nursing care facilities within the town and measured its effects at three model facilities.
While the demand for nursing care services is increasing due to the rapidly aging population, the shortage of nursing care personnel due to population decline is becoming severe, making productivity improvement in nursing care service facilities an urgent issue.
In this context, the government is promoting the introduction of the "Care Plan Data Linkage System," which allows documents to be sent and received online, to reduce the burden of "paper sorting" and "manual data entry" associated with monthly care plans and performance reports. However, adoption and utilization have not progressed sufficiently due to reasons such as "neighboring facilities not having introduced it," "unclear benefits," "seems difficult to introduce and operate," and "lack of understanding from management."
Therefore, this project implemented a hands-on model initiative to provide integrated support to nursing care facilities in the town, from system introduction to operational establishment.
As a result, concrete achievements were made, such as a significant increase in the town-wide adoption rate and a reduction in workload at the model facilities. This release reports the details of these achievements.
**Promotion and Importance of the Care Plan Data Linkage System**
Currently, manual methods such as hand delivery and mail are common for exchanging documents between nursing care facilities. This administrative work becomes "indirect work" that deprives nursing care staff of time they should be dedicating to "direct care for users," placing a significant burden on the front lines.
The "Care Plan Data Linkage System" was devised as a mechanism to solve this problem and complete document exchange online. The government has set a national target of a 30% system adoption rate for local governments, but as of October 2025, it remained below 10%.
Subsequently, efforts for widespread adoption have progressed, and as of March 2026, the adoption rate has improved to 28.2%, but further promotion is still required.
Furthermore, this system plays a crucial role in the "Care Information Infrastructure" that the government is currently promoting, which unifies care, medical, and administrative information. The introduction of the system by each facility is a prerequisite for accumulating and utilizing care plan data in this infrastructure.
In other words, the Care Plan Data Linkage System is not merely a tool for operational efficiency but an indispensable part of the digital infrastructure that will support the future long-term care insurance system, making its introduction essential for all facilities.
**About the FY2025 Mifune Town Care Plan Data Linkage Utilization Promotion Model Region Development Project**
■ **Project Content**
* Holding business briefing and demo experience sessions.
* Support for introduction and utilization for nursing care facilities in the town (4 practical training sessions, individual consultations).
* Effect verification at model facilities (work inventory, time study).
* Dissemination of best practices through results reporting sessions.
■ **TRAPE's Involvement in this Project**
TRAPE provided comprehensive support from system introduction to its establishment as a regional "surface" solution, not just "point" support such as introduction assistance or operation explanations.
① **Building a robust support foundation to prevent "frustration" at the front lines**
Visual "Practical Guides" were created and distributed for all facilities in the prefecture, allowing even those unfamiliar with computer operations to proceed without hesitation. Additionally, four online training sessions were held to provide an environment for step-by-step learning. Furthermore, a call center was established to immediately answer individual questions via phone or email, thoroughly providing hands-on support to ensure steady progress.
② **Deployment of persistent outreach by a "one team" of administration, model facilities, and TRAPE**
To maximize the value of the system, the administration, model facilities, and TRAPE in Mifune Town formed "one team" to promote its adoption. The model facilities, which had introduced the system early, became regional hubs, engaging in persistent outreach to nearby facilities with whom they had actual transactions, encouraging them with phrases like "Let's use it together, it will make things easier for both of us!" This was supported by administrative backing (e.g., frequent encouragement for adoption) and TRAPE's hearings and follow-up support.