More than four dozen’ healthcare AI use cases will be investigated as part of Microsoft and Mercy’s multiyear agreement

Microsoft and Mercy, two prominent entities in the realms of technology and healthcare, have joined forces to delve into the realms of generative AI, cloud technology, and various tools aimed at alleviating the burdens on employees within the healthcare system. This collaboration is an extension of prior investments that Mercy had made in Microsoft’s secure cloud platform. These prior investments paved the way for real-time clinical decision-making, as Joe Kelly, Mercy’s EVP of Transformation and Business Development Officer noted.

Mercy, based in St. Louis, stands as one of the nation’s largest health systems, encompassing more than 40 acute care, managed care, and specialty hospitals. The nonprofit organization oversees one of the country’s largest Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), boasts a workforce of over 45,000 individuals, and offers healthcare services across several states.

The collaboration with Microsoft encompasses an exploration of over four dozen applications of AI, with plans to introduce multiple new AI use cases by the middle of the following year, aiming to revolutionize care and experiences for both patients and healthcare professionals. Kelly emphasized that this collaboration represents the epitome of predictive, proactive, and personalized care.

The collaboration’s release outlined several immediate use cases that Mercy intends to implement utilizing Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. One significant application is the utilization of generative AI-assisted patient messaging to respond to inquiries regarding lab results or other care-related topics in a conversational manner. Additionally, the technology will be leveraged to assist with patient calls, aiding in actions such as scheduling appointments and providing follow-up recommendations, thus minimizing the necessity for subsequent interactions.

Internally, Mercy employees will have access to a chatbot designed to assist them in navigating the system’s policies, procedures, and other human-resources-related information. This resource aims to optimize employees’ time, allowing them to dedicate more of it to patient care.

Looking ahead, Mercy envisions employing a secure, centralized data platform built on Azure to drive insights that reduce unnecessary patient days in the hospital. This would be achieved by providing care teams with smart dashboards and enhanced visibility into the factors influencing the timing of patients’ return home. Peter Lee, Corporate Vice President of Research and Incubations at Microsoft, expressed excitement about the potential of generative AI advancements in the healthcare sector, asserting that this collaboration signifies a transformative phase.

This collaboration places Mercy among the growing roster of healthcare partners engaged by Microsoft for its Azure-powered AI initiatives. Previously, similar arrangements were established with Duke Health, Teladoc, and Ochsner Health. Generative AI and related innovations have emerged as focal points for healthcare providers, featuring prominently in their tech budgets, although formalized strategies or frameworks were relatively sparse as of the summer preceding this collaboration.