Microsoft is partnering with select health systems to pilot and refine its healthcare tools, choosing organizations that can provide valuable insights for shaping the future of its products.
Recently, Microsoft engaged with eight health systems — Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health; Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health; Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health; Denver-based Intermountain Health St. Joseph Hospital; St. Louis-based Mercy; Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine; Palo Alto, Calif.-based Stanford Health Care; and Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital — to test a new ambient technology tool that automatically generates flowsheets for clinical review. The initiative aims to streamline nursing documentation, a process often cited as a burden by frontline staff.
These health systems are gathering data and feedback from nurses to help Microsoft refine the tool before a broader rollout. They also benefit from collaborative discussions with each other on best practices and strategies.
"We're trying new approaches and tools to support workflow, and we've had discussions about metrics, such as how these changes impact the time spent on documentation at the end of shifts. We're also exploring potential quality impacts and a variety of other factors," Kay Lytle, DNP, RN, chief nursing information officer at Duke University Health System, told Becker's. "Having the opportunity to bounce ideas off of each other has been incredibly beneficial."
Kees Hertogh, vice president of health and life sciences product marketing at Microsoft, told Becker's that preview customers gain early technology access, the ability to shape product features and regular support check-ins. The partnership not only enhances patient care and efficiency but also provides a valuable networking opportunity for leading health systems.
Dr. Lytle noted that Duke Health nurses appreciate having their voices heard in the development process.
Regarding how Microsoft selects its health system partners, Mr. Hertogh said the company partners with "innovative and collaborative healthcare organizations that are leaders in their field and have the technical readiness to implement and test new solutions."
"To ensure that the solutions developed are versatile and applicable across different settings, we aim to include a diverse range of healthcare providers, from large hospital systems to specialized clinics," he said.