Microsoft collaborated with Walgreens Boots Alliance to develop a new healthcare delivery model, which could produce new health centers in the future.
Here are five things to know:
1. In the near future, the companies will combine the Microsoft's cloud and artificial intelligence platform Microsoft Azure as well as it's healthcare investments and new retail solutions with WBA's consumer reach, convenient locations, outpatient healthcare services and industry expertise.
2. The new collaboration aims to make healthcare delivery more personal, accessible and affordable. The companies plan to produce new platforms that can enable next-generation health networks, integrated digital physical experiences as well as care management solutions.
3. Both organizations committed to a multiyear research and development investment to build healthcare solutions as well as improve outcomes and lower costs. They may also establish joint venture centers in some markets; initially, WBA is launching an in-store digital health corner in up to 12 stores.
4. Stefano Pessina, executive vice chairman and CEO of WBA, envisions transforming stores into neighborhood health destinations and expanding offerings to customers.
"WBA will work with Microsoft to harness the information that exists between payers and healthcare providers to leverage in the interest of patients and with their consent, our extraordinary network of accessible and convenient locations to deliver new innovations, greater value and better health outcomes in healthcare systems across the world," he said.
5. This partnership comes nearly a year after Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan teamed up to create a venture that would lower the cost of healthcare. That project also initially focused on IT solutions.