How Microsoft is transforming Canada’s healthcare
TORONTO: It is no exaggeration to say that Microsoft has changed the world, as it has transformed nearly every part of people’s working and home lives – after all, around a fifth of the world’s population use Microsoft products on a daily basis
It is no exaggeration to say that Microsoft has changed the world, as it has transformed nearly every part of people’s working and home lives – after all, around a fifth of the world’s population uses Microsoft products on a daily basis. Next, the IT giant is set to revolutionize healthcare.
The healthcare system faces some tough challenges. Wait times are lengthy, whether in the emergency room, referral to a specialist, or making appointments to see a doctor, and processes can generally be slow-moving.
Meanwhile healthcare IT has traditionally been focused on hospital-based Electronic Health Records (EHR), but part of Microsoft’s digital vision is to move beyond this and onto more efficient processes. Peter Jones, Microsoft’s Industry Lead in Healthcare for Canada, explains:
“Traditionally we’ve spent a lot of money and resources on digitizing healthcare records. We are now focused more on systems of insight that will enable us to access data and make better decisions on patient care and the operations in the hospital.”
As well as shifting from systems of record to systems of insight, Jones explains they are moving towards systems of engagement, making it possible for patients to interact with healthcare providers in new ways. Patient engagement is one of the four pillars of Microsoft’s model to transform the country’s healthcare system, alongside empowering care teams, optimizing operations and transforming the continuum for better patient care.
Now that it’s possible to book everything from a taxi to a grocery shop via a touchscreen, it makes sense for patients to want healthcare to be just as accessible.
New technology that enables care teams to monitor patients remotely is of huge benefit to people with chronic conditions, as it cuts down on wait times for appointments, and means those with limited mobility, such as the elderly, don’t need assistance with travelling to appointments.
The eVisit, developed in conjunction with telemedicine specialists Novari Health, makes it possible for patients to schedule virtual consultations with doctors. It’s as simple as clicking on a meeting request in an email to carry out a virtual appointment from the comfort of the patients’ home. “You can get access to a member of your care team including doctors and nurses,” Jones explains.
