GE, Microsoft Set to Partner on Global Healthcare System Transformation Joint Venture

General Electric Co. has announced plans to create a joint venture between its healthcare IT business and Microsoft Corp. aimed at developing and marketing an open, interoperable technology platform and clinical applications focused on population health management intended to improve outcomes and the economics of health and wellness, according to a GE news release.

Launch of the new joint-venture company, which has yet to be named, is expected in the first half of 2012.

This new venture will combine Microsoft's experience in building platforms and ecosystems with GE Healthcare's experience in clinical and administrative workflow solutions, according to the release.

"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, " said Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE, in the release. "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."

The two parent companies will contribute intellectual property to the new company, including:

• Microsoft Amalga, an enterprise health intelligence platform
• Microsoft Vergence, a single sign-on and context management solution
• Microsoft expreSSO, an enterprise single sign-on solution
• GE Healthcare eHealth, a Health Information Exchange
• GE Healthcare Qualibria, a clinical knowledge application environment being developed in cooperation with Intermountain Healthcare

The long-term vision of the venture is to create offer a healthcare performance management suite that includes many of these products. The two companies will continue to create and sell healthcare IT products separately.

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