The Ohio State University and Microsoft announced a five-year partnership Nov. 10 to expand cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and technology training across clinical care, research, and education.
The partnership targets moving approximately 70% to 80% of Ohio State’s storage and computing to Microsoft Azure, including digital pathology and imaging workloads, according to a Microsoft press release.
Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center is moving its electronic health record to Azure as a business continuity backup.
The organizations are developing a smart hospital model that connects facility, operational, and clinical-support systems. The platform already operates at Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital and James Outpatient Care, and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center plans to expand it to additional facilities.
The medical center is building a shared data platform using Microsoft Fabric and OneLake to connect clinical, operational, and research data across its medical center, colleges, and regional campuses. Potential uses include forecasting surgical demand, staffing needs, and operating room use, according to the press release.
In addition, Ohio State and Microsoft aim to use AI to reduce administrative work and improve collaboration, giving clinicians more time with patients while retaining human oversight and clinical judgment. Clinicians already use Dragon Copilot to draft visit notes for clinician review and finalization.
The partners are exploring AI-supported tumor-board workflows that could combine pathology, imaging, genomics, and clinical history in a coordinated view. The goal is to help multidisciplinary teams discuss complex cases across locations and develop care plans more efficiently.
“Artificial intelligence represents one of the most significant opportunities to transform and improve how hospitals care for patients,” said Dr. John J. Warner, CEO of Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and executive vice president at Ohio State.
The partners also plan to expand AI learning and certification opportunities for students, faculty, researchers, and employees.
