Microsoft has announced new innovations in its Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, aiming to enhance care experiences and improve collaboration within the healthcare sector. The tech giant is introducing AI models in Azure AI Studio, healthcare data solutions in Microsoft Fabric, a healthcare agent service in Copilot Studio, and an AI-driven nursing workflow solution.
Joe Petro, corporate vice president of Healthcare and Life Sciences Solutions and Platforms at Microsoft, stated: “We are at an inflection point where AI breakthroughs are fundamentally changing the way we work and live.” He highlighted how these advancements are improving patient care and rekindling clinicians' passion for medicine.
The launch includes healthcare AI models available in the Azure AI model catalog. These models were developed with partners like Providence and Paige.ai to help organizations analyze diverse data types such as medical imaging and genomics. Carlo Bifulco, MD from Providence Genomics commented on their potential impact: “The development of foundational AI models in pathology and medical imaging is expected to drive significant advancements in cancer research and diagnostics.”
Microsoft Fabric aims to address challenges related to accessing unstructured healthcare data. It provides a unified platform for managing data while offering security application templates through Microsoft Purview. Features include conversational data integration, social determinants of health dataset transformation, CMS claim data ingestion, care management analytics, and patient cohorting workflows.
To tackle workforce shortages and rising costs, Microsoft is also previewing a healthcare agent service in Copilot Studio. This tool helps automate tasks like appointment scheduling and clinical trial matching. Cleveland Clinic is among early adopters using this technology to enhance patient experiences.
In response to a predicted shortage of nurses by 2030 by WHO1, Microsoft is collaborating with several healthcare organizations to develop an AI solution that assists with nursing documentation. Corey Miller from Epic emphasized: “AI is transforming nursing workflows by streamlining administrative tasks.” Terry McDonnell from Duke University Health System added that it allows nurses more time for patient care.
Microsoft reiterates its commitment to responsible AI practices aligned with principles established in 2018. The company emphasizes building systems that avoid harmful content or bias while sharing best practices with customers.
For further details on Microsoft's initiatives in healthcare technology, visit their website or meet them at HLTH 2024.
