- Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and GE Healthcare are partnering to launch a cloud-based software platform
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and GE Healthcare are partnering to launch a cloud-based software platform — which would enable medical professionals to monitor COVID-19 patients remotely, according to Fool.com. The Mural Virtual Care Solution was expected to launch in 2020, but then it was deployed on Microsoft’s Azure cloud to quickly help healthcare professionals in monitoring patients with the virus, including the ones on ventilators.
The companies said that they would give hospitals access to the new cloud software for free until January 2021. One installation would be able to monitor a 100-bed multi-site ICU network with three senior nurses and two intensivists.
This reduction in staff is possible as the cloud-based platform offers real-time data from ventilators, patient monitoring systems, and electronic medical records in one central place. So this enables clinicians to monitor several patients at one time.
Microsoft said this technology would help medical professionals lower their exposure to pandemic patients. And it would also reduce the need for personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE has been in shorter supplies due to the heavy usage during the pandemic.
“Now more than ever, we need to manage a greater number of ventilated patients with limited resources,” said Microsoft Global Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Rhew in a statement. “Mural Virtual Care on Microsoft Azure allows for remote management and surveillance of ventilated patients at scale.”
