Laboratory News

Microsoft Moves Toward Global Health Presence with Latest Acquisition

Having recently launched its Health Vault Web site, Microsoft is taking the next steps to become a global player in healthcare services.  It recently purchased Global Care Solutions Thailand, a company that offers a package of clinical and back-office software.  One notable fact about this software is that it was developed in collaboration with Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, which has become a leading global outsourcer of health care (known in the industry as "medical tourism"). 

The Global Care Solutions software enables hospitals to swiftly manage billing and medical records in a variety of languages.  The software suite is comprised of 50 clinical and back-office application modules.  Currently, seven hospitals use this software, including Bumrungrad Hospital. The software runs all hospital clinical and administrative operations on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

At Bumrungrad Hospital, that can slash wait times to see a doctor to an average of 17 minutes.  Craig Mundie, Microsoft's chief strategy and research officer, said that Microsoft will sell Global Care Solutions' software to hospitals world-wide, in its effort to help hospitals cut costs and time needed to process patients.  "The added value we can offer in this is not only in getting the software up to speed, but also to enable people to feel more comfortable with it because of the imprimatur of Microsoft and our ability to globally support it," said Mundie.  Bumrungrad treats more than 1.2 million patients a year from 190 countries.  That is 3,300 patients per day at just one hospital! 

Microsoft sees technology support for healthcare as a potentially lucrative new business.  In terms of technology use, the healthcare industry lags behind other industries and patients suffer delays and mistakes as a consequence.  Microsoft is developing software known as Azyxxi  that will help hospitals integrate their data. 

It is noteworthy that Microsoft chose to purchase a product being used at a hospital famous for its medical tourism.  First, it is likely that this software is robust, since Bangrum Hospital is treating an average of 3,300 patients per day and the software can handle the native languages of these patients, who come from 190 different countries.  Second, Microsoft has ample capital and the resources needed to establish itself as a major source of health information technology.  Pathologists and lab directors should keep an eye on Microsoft as it builds its portfolio of healthcare IT products. It may not be long before Microsoft's software offerings catch the attention of both hospitals and physician group practices.

Related Articles:

• Microsoft to buy Thai health software vendor 
• Microsoft to Acquire Global Care Solutions
• Microsoft to Acquire Innovative Healthcare Technology and Assets From Global Care Solutions