A little over a year ago, the healthcare sector was abuzz with the introduction of generative AI and its potential to revolutionize patient care, support clinicians, and enhance the overall health system. Since then, AI has ignited a new wave of innovation in healthcare, with the momentum continuing to build. According to a Microsoft-commissioned IDC study, 79% of healthcare organizations are now utilizing AI technologies. These organizations are also seeing measurable business value, with AI investments paying off within 14 months and delivering an average return of $3.20 for every dollar spent.
Microsoft is partnering with healthcare organizations to turn AI’s potential into reality. By addressing the industry’s most significant challenges, Microsoft is helping to create meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery. At the 2024 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, we’re showcasing the ways generative AI is transforming healthcare, focusing on real-world applications and their impact.
Real-World AI Solutions in Healthcare
Stanford Medicine has partnered with Microsoft to deploy the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience Copilot (DAX Copilot) system across the organization. This conversational, ambient AI solution is helping clinicians at Stanford Medicine by streamlining administrative tasks like clinical documentation, ultimately reducing physician burnout and enhancing patient care. A survey revealed that 96% of clinicians found DAX Copilot easy to use, with 78% stating it sped up clinical notetaking, and about two-thirds reporting that it saved time. This deployment marks a significant step toward leveraging AI for improved efficiency in patient care.
WellSpan Health has also adopted DAX Copilot to improve patient-physician interactions during both in-person and telehealth appointments. By automating clinical note drafting, the AI tool enables physicians to focus entirely on patient care, free from the distractions of manual documentation. This adoption builds on WellSpan’s previous success with Nuance solutions, helping to streamline workflows and improve patient care. Physician and patient satisfaction surveys show that the use of DAX Copilot has significantly improved the quality of interactions while reducing the documentation workload for clinicians.
Providence has entered into a strategic partnership with Microsoft to accelerate AI innovation in healthcare. By using Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare and Azure, the collaboration focuses on improving data interoperability, generating clinical insights, and enhancing care delivery. Providence’s migration to cloud-based solutions and adoption of AI-powered tools like DAX Copilot are driving this transformation, helping to create more personalized experiences for both patients and healthcare providers.
Commitment to Responsible AI in Healthcare
While AI’s potential is immense, ensuring responsible use is critical. Microsoft remains deeply committed to its Responsible AI principles, which ensure the safe, fair, and ethical application of AI technologies. As part of this commitment, Microsoft has joined forces with several healthcare leaders to form the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network (TRAIN), one of the first health AI networks dedicated to advancing responsible AI use in healthcare.
As the technology partner for TRAIN, Microsoft is collaborating with institutions like AdventHealth, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and others to share best practices and provide tools to measure outcomes from AI implementations. TRAIN will help ensure that AI benefits are accessible to healthcare organizations regardless of their size or resources.
In addition, Microsoft continues to enhance its technology offerings to ensure compliance with the highest levels of security and privacy. The recent preview of Microsoft Fabric’s healthcare data solutions allows healthcare organizations to break down data silos and harmonize disparate data sources in a single store where AI and analytics can operate at scale. Fabric now supports HIPAA compliance, ensuring that U.S. healthcare organizations can securely store, process, and analyze data using this solution.
Driving Innovation Through Partnerships
Microsoft’s global ecosystem of trusted partners is essential in driving innovation. This week, Cognizant announced that its TriZetto Assistant will integrate with Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to bring generative AI capabilities to healthcare payers and providers, improving productivity, efficiency, and patient care.
Additionally, Microsoft for Startups has partnered with the American Medical Association (AMA) on its Physician Innovation Network, which connects physicians, care teams, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to foster healthcare innovation. Through this collaboration, startup founders in the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub will have direct access to healthcare experts and industry leaders to enhance their solutions and make an impact on healthcare.
These partnerships demonstrate the exciting times we are living in. Microsoft is proud to see its generative AI solutions making a tangible difference in healthcare, and we remain committed to leading the way in AI innovation. By empowering healthcare organizations with cutting-edge and responsible AI technologies, we are helping to create better experiences and outcomes for patients and clinicians alike.
