MICROSOFT HEALTH
Transform the continuum Some of the most exciting models of care leverage cloud computing . This is currently the primary focus for Microsoft . Once viewed with skepticism by the health industry due to perceived security or control limitations , the cloud is now undeniably being embraced by health organizations around the world . Indeed , Gartner predicts that within this decade organizations will be going to the cloud precisely because it is more secure than the on premises counterpart . Part of this momentum is driven by cost efficiencies and outsourcing , but there is another motivator that is becoming increasingly apparent – some capabilities are only possible in the cloud .
“ The cloud is essentially a global
supercomputer , that you can access on demand and pay only for what you use . You get all the benefits , yet the cost is spread across all the users . Kind of like timeshare .” Kos reflects . The virtually unlimited storage pool makes medical imaging storage cost effective , or any other big data scenario for that matter . The incredible processing power makes genomic sequencing feasible . Machine learning and artificial intelligence are most practical in the cloud . Aggregations of software as a service providers , like an enterprise app store , allow organizations to discover , trial and deploy new applications with a minimum of risk and hassle . Kos sees the potential of the cloud to defragment all the data silos that frustrate holistic health information management .
The cloud can also be a place for partnerships . Application developer Gojo teamed up with hand hygiene specialist Purell to create an innovative approach to combat hospital acquired infections . By combining information from activity monitors about staff traffic into a patient room , together
88 November 2017