GE said it has joined hands with Microsoft to create a new venture aimed at helping healthcare professionals use real-time, system-wide intelligence to improve quality and the patient experience.

The JV firm will develop and market an open, interoperable technology platform and innovative clinical applications focused on enabling better population health management to improve outcomes and overall economics of health and wellness.

It will combine Microsoft’s expertise in building platforms and ecosystems with GE Healthcare’s experience in clinical and administrative workflow solutions, empowering healthcare professionals with the intelligence to respond to the rapidly evolving and complex healthcare landscape, said a top official.

“The complementary nature of GE Healthcare’s and Microsoft’s individual expertise will drive new insights, solutions and efficiencies to further advance the two companies’ shared vision of a connected, patient-centric healthcare system,” remarked Jeffrey R. Immelt, the GE chairman and chief executive officer.

As healthcare providers and payers around the globe shift from episodic single-patient care to continuous population management, new requirements have emerged for integrated care processes, greater insight and engaging patient experiences, he stated.

"The global healthcare challenges of access, cost and quality of care delivery are creating a new focus on the performance and accountability of healthcare delivery systems – in every country, at every level of care."

"This venture will demonstrate what is possible when leading companies with complementary capabilities work together to meet a common goal," Immelt added.

The new company will deliver a distinctive, open platform that will give healthcare providers and independent software vendors the ability to develop a new generation of clinical applications.

It will develop healthcare applications on the platform using in-house developers and the platform will connect with a wide range of healthcare IT products.

GE Healthcare IT will immediately be able to connect existing products to the platform, helping current customers to derive new insights.

“High quality affordable healthcare is one of the biggest challenges facing every nation, but it’s also an area where technology can make a huge difference,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft.

“Working together, GE and Microsoft can help make healthcare systems more intelligent and cost efficient while improving patient care,” he added.

In addition to the new JV, the two firms will each maintain a strong presence in the healthcare IT industry, as they will continue to sell other products and services to healthcare organizations around the globe.-TradeArabia News Service