Becker's Hospital Review

27 INNOVATION Texas health system aims to create 'Amazon-like experience' with Microsoft By Giles Bruce G alveston-based University of Texas Medical Branch recently inked a five-year deal with Microso to take advantage of the company's AI and cloud computing capabilities, its CIO told Becker's. is came aer UTMB's new president added a fourth pillar to the health system's previous three of education, research and healthcare: innovation. "My goal is to push innovation down to the desktop," UTMB Vice President and CIO George Gaddie told Becker's. "We are going to be a Microso shop. We're going all in." e four-hospital system is standardizing its cloud computing with Microso's Azure and utilizing the Big Tech company's Fabric data analytics platform. "We've been working with Microso on tools that will allow patients, via text, to schedule appointments, make payments online," Mr. Gaddie said. "We want an Amazon-like experience for our patients, so that's where we're headed." UTMB has already been employing Microso's DAX Copilot ambient listening tool for clinical documentation for over a year. e health system also plans to use AI products that scan radiology images and check screenings for incidental findings. e health system has been in talks with Microso since early 2024 and has had three different CFOs in that time. Aer Mr. Gaddie convinced the most recent CFO of the value of the deal, the agreement was signed in recent weeks. e return on investment comes from moving employees into higher- value work or not having to backfill positions thanks to automation, Mr. Gaddie said. His sister systems under the University of Texas umbrella are now similarly looking to partner with Microso. "We have not just made IT more innovative; we've made the organization more innovative, where if people have ideas, they can try them. ey've got the tools necessary, the training necessary, they've got the expertise, the confidence," Mr. Gaddie said. "We're changing our culture by doing this. It's not just about soware, it's about solving problems." n Why Texas Health is taking a loss on hospital at home By Giles Bruce A rlington-based Texas Health Resources is taking a loss on hospital at home to care for patients in their preferred venue, D Magazine reported May 20. "is isn't a money maker for us," Kathi Cox, ambulatory and virtual channel COO at Texas Health, told the news outlet. "is is a Medicare and Medicare Advantage program, so we're not making margin here, and we're doing it anyway because it's good for patients and it's good care. We need to be thinking about the future and how we care for patients." e health system recently expanded the care model to a sixth hospital — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southlake (Texas) — even as peers in the industry have discontinued their programs for financial reasons. Ms. Cox told the magazine the initiative will need more patient volume to succeed. at could come if the federal government extends or makes permanent CMS' hospital-at-home waiver past September and more commercial payers enter the market. n Ambient AI gains ground but affordability lags By Naomi Diaz A I-powered ambient listening tools are gaining traction in healthcare, but cost remains a key concern, The Wall Street Journal reported May 27. Most health systems license or subscribe to the technology, with monthly fees ranging from $200 to $600 per physician. The long-term financial impact on healthcare costs, however, is still uncertain, according to the report. Mark Weisman, MD, CIO and CMIO of Salisbury, Md.-based TidalHealth, echoed similar concerns to Becker's. He said the cost of generative AI tools in healthcare remains steep, even as more vendors enter the space. "There's still a high cost in this space, even with growing competition — so much so that vendors are starting to cannibalize their own," Dr. Weisman said. However, he noted that some of the larger companies are beginning to adjust their pricing strategies. "We're seeing some of the larger players become more competitive on price because they're focused on gaining market share," he said. "They understand now that switching is difficult. Once a provider becomes comfortable with an AI tool, they're unlikely to want to change." n

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