Microsoft and Epic are expanding their strategic collaboration to integrate their varied resources to bring generative AI into healthcare. By utilizing the power of Azure OpenAI Service and Epic’s industry-leading electronic health record (EHR) software, the two companies are optimistic that healthcare systems globally could see technology-enabled streamlined workflows, improved patient care, and sound financial integrity.
UC San Diego Health, UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, and Stanford Health have all seen success in the early phase of introducing the enhanced automated message responses after integrating generative AI into their systems. UW Health’s Chief Information Officer, Cherokee Goswami, commented “A good use of technology simplifies things related to workforce and workflow. Integrating generative AI into some of our daily workflows will increase productivity for many of our providers, allowing them to focus on the clinical duties that truly require their attention.”
By enabling more natural language queries, intimate data analytics, and self-service reporting, the collaboration between Microsoft, Nuance and Epic will open doors to more efficient processes as well as cost and revenue-boosting opportunities. According to Seth Hain, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Epic, their experiments with OpenAI’s GPT-4 has already given them insight into the benefits their latest collaboration will bring.
Industry experts have cited the urgent need for health systems and hospitals to control their costs and optimize their margins, since a large portion of U.S. hospitals finished 2022 with negative margins; experiencing labour shortages among other disrupting factors. Eric Boyd, Corporate Vice President, AI Platform, noted that “the urgent and critical challenges facing healthcare systems and their providers demand a comprehensive approach combining Azure OpenAI Service with Epic’s industry-leading technology.”
Microsoft is committed to creating responsible AI by design, guided by core principles such as fairness, safety, inclusiveness and transparency. They intend to ensure that the technology that can change the world is used in a responsible and ethical way. Those interested in learning more about this collaboration can visit the Microsoft, Nuance, and Epic booths at the 2023 HIMSS Global Health Conference in Chicago.
About Epic
Epic is a software company driven by its mission of helping people get well, stay healthy, and helping future generations live healthier lives. Their end goal is to nurture healthier communities – ranging from providing data analysis solutions to healthcare supply disruption solutions.
About Microsoft
Microsoft primarily focuses on empowering every individual and organisation to achieve more. This is done through its vast array of products, ranging from artificial intelligence to the cloud, which essentially drive its digital transformation. It hopes to make the best use of technology to better the lives of people while keeping them secure and safe.
