In 2013, the costs for the German health care system exceeded the 300 billion euro mark for the first time, of which more than 50 billion euro were attributable to psychiatric illnesses. In order to counteract the rise in costs in the field of psychiatry, the Federal Ministry of Health has introduced a performance-based and flat-rate remuneration system. This remuneration system „Pauschalierende Entgelte für Psychiatrie und Psychosomatik for psychiatry and psychosomatics (PEPP)“ will lead to extensive changes in the remuneration of psychiatric-medical services, with consequences for future billing systems that are difficult to predict and the resulting economic implications.

The objective of the research project is to develop an integral approach to support strategic decisions and to examine alternative courses of action under economic uncertainty, taking into account the special requirements for psychiatric clinics, especially in consideration of the changing billing system.

Methods of data analysis and simulations are used for the implementation. A specific data warehouse model will be developed and implemented as a database. Typical questions from the management of clinics are considered in this model. Based on this, powerful analysis tools based on data aggregation, data mining and stochastic simulation will be implemented. These analysis tools will complement already existing dashboard solutions by performing and visualizing what-if analyses and simulations derived from selected questions.