Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, a renowned pediatric and maternity center, has joined forces with Microsoft to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI in healthcare.
This collaboration aims to identify and evaluate the development of solutions to benefit patients and healthcare professionals, as well as to advance scientific research.
Enhancing Digital Health with AI
The partnership between Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and Microsoft seeks to leverage cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, to drive innovation in the healthcare sector. By applying AI and Generative AI, the two entities will analyze the joint development of use cases and projects focused on digital health. One of the key initiatives is the establishment of an AI Health Copilot Lab, a dedicated laboratory to explore the potential of AI in healthcare.
Alberto Granados, President of Microsoft Spain, emphasizes the potential of AI in improving healthcare outcomes: “With the signing of this agreement, we will work with Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona to identify joint projects where the application of AI and Generative AI can assist healthcare professionals in making more precise diagnoses and treatment plans.
Moreover, it will promote predictive and proactive healthcare by developing better recommendations for preventive care.”
Fostering Innovation in Healthcare
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, part of the San Juan de Dios Hospital Order, is committed to delivering exceptional care to women, children, and adolescents under the age of 18. As one of the leading maternal and pediatric healthcare centers in Europe, the hospital plays a vital role in specialized areas like neuroscience, oncology, and cardiology.
Through this collaboration, the hospital aims to evaluate the implementation of AI and Generative AI in research, development, and innovation projects related to healthcare. The integration of AI technologies holds the promise of enhancing patient care, accelerating medical research, and promoting the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.
Manel del Castillo, Managing Director of Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, acknowledges the significance of Generative AI: “Generative AI is an unstoppable trend, and our hospital is beginning to explore its potential for the benefit of patients, professionals, and the healthcare system. We are committed to ensuring ethical practices, safety, and best practices in utilizing Generative AI.”
Responsible Application of AI
The collaboration between Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and Microsoft emphasizes the responsible and ethical application of AI. To ensure the responsible use of Generative AI, the hospital has established a multidisciplinary committee to oversee its implementation.
The committee’s primary role is to uphold ethical standards, data privacy, and safety while harnessing the potential of Generative AI.
Microsoft’s commitment to privacy, security, and data sovereignty is demonstrated through its EU Data Boundary initiative. This program ensures that customer data using Microsoft’s cloud services, including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform, is stored and processed within the European Union.
By adhering to these data storage and processing commitments defined by the EU Data Boundary, Microsoft guarantees digital sovereignty, especially in the healthcare sector.
Collaborative Projects and Research
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and Microsoft will collaborate on the development of the Health Copilot Lab, a dedicated AI project laboratory focused on the healthcare sector. This lab aims to explore different applications of AI in healthcare and can potentially be integrated into the existing Command Center at the hospital.
The Command Center, which is already operational, plays a crucial role in digitizing healthcare services. It enables a team of professionals to access and evaluate real-time data on the hospital’s functioning, facilitating optimal patient flow and efficient management.
Integrating AI projects within the Command Center can provide a comprehensive and real-time overview of the hospital’s operations, enabling timely decision-making to manage resources effectively and enhance the patient experience.
Furthermore, the collaboration between Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and Microsoft will include the implementation of AI-driven patient interaction models. These models aim to provide tailored responses to meet patients’ specific needs, with AI acting as a supportive tool under human supervision.
Additionally, there are plans to automate coding processes related to rare diseases and phenotypic coding.
Empowering Patients and Healthcare Professionals
The collaboration between Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and Microsoft extends beyond technological advancements. It also focuses on empowering patients and healthcare professionals through training and education. The hospital will have the opportunity to incorporate AI-enabled tools into its Health School platform, which aims to educate and empower patients with relevant health information.
Health School platform, a pioneering project in health promotion and education, equips healthcare professionals with tools to educate and train patients. It aims to promote healthy habits and disseminate crucial information regarding maternal and child health among the population.
Advancing Rare Disease Care
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona is dedicated to providing specialized care for children with rare diseases. In collaboration with the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER), the hospital is actively involved in the Únicas initiative.
Únicas is a network of healthcare centers, research institutions, and FEDER, led by the Ministry of Health, working together to improve care for pediatric patients with rare diseases. The Únicas network can potentially benefit from the AI-driven initiatives explored within the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu environment.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and Microsoft signifies a significant step towards leveraging AI and Generative AI in healthcare. By exploring the potential of these technologies, the aim is to enhance patient care, accelerate medical research, and drive innovation in the healthcare sector.
With a strong commitment to responsible AI practices, privacy, and data security, this collaboration sets the stage for transformative advancements in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.