In a recent MSDynamicsWorld.com article, “Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Takes Center Stage for Healthcare with Microsoft Azure,” Eamon McCarthy Earls, Assistant Editor speaks to Orion SVP, Pharma & Life Sciences, V. “Bala” Balasubramanian about one of Microsoft’s key initiatives, Azure API for FHIR and how it will affect the future of IT systems, as well as the role that medical devices currently play and how it will evolve.
When asked about Azure’s benefits for healthcare organizations, Bala explains, “We’re seeing more healthcare and device companies leverage Azure to manage regulations. Devices are getting smarter, better connected and more powerful every day while healthcare companies are moving faster than ever to be first to market. At the same time, regulators are racing to implement new rules and requirements to keep these advances in check. In this environment, regulatory intelligence is essential and Azure is a critical tool to help health care and medical device companies stay ahead of this evolving regulatory landscape.”
“Not only do digital cloud-based platforms update with regulatory requirements seamlessly, they also ease the process of managing or launching new products to fulfill market requirements… Transforming the regulatory process from manual checklists and folders to digital leads to more positive outcomes and quickens the path to market.”
Later, when asked about the speed in which some technology is advancing and whether it will continue to create new challenges for healthcare organizations, Bala states, “We’re still in the early stages [of IoMT innovation] but it will accelerate rapidly. New, innovative products are rolling out every day and the challenge for healthcare companies will be on managing risks associated with their new devices. For example, a glucose monitor that is now easily linked to a smartwatch completely transforms how one’s glucose level is tracked and reported. It’s an innovative approach but can also raise questions and concerns on data protection, privacy, and ownership. With a higher level of scrutiny on these types of issues, healthcare and medical device companies can leverage cloud-based technologies like Azure to manage the regulatory process successfully. “
