Microsoft Announces Framework

NEW ORLEANS -- Providing government and healthcare organizations worldwide with a free and extensible architectural foundation to simplify interoperability and integration between healthcare solutions, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) today announced the broad availability of the Connected Health Framework Architecture and Design Blueprint. The announcement comes as attendees from all segments of the healthcare industry convene to explore cutting-edge technologies, marketplace changes, new models of delivery and care, and other leading issues at this year's Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference taking place in New Orleans through March 1.

The Microsoft Connected Health Framework Architecture and Design Blueprint provides a real-world model for providers seeking to deploy service-oriented architecture (SOA) solutions to address increasing pressures on an overburdened and fragmented healthcare system. In addition to the Blueprint, Microsoft is making available the Health Connection Engine, a standards-based set of Web services that enable health organizations to quickly deploy solutions to improve interoperability, clinical collaboration and decision-making tools.

"IT-enabled process improvement is at the heart of federal healthcare policy initiatives and a key agenda item for healthcare industry leaders," said Marc Holland, program director for Health Provider Research at Health Industry Insights, an IDC company. "The ability to integrate patient information stored in a variety of data sources across the entire continuum of care is essential to this effort, and SOA is a critical enabling technology. With the ability to efficiently connect disparate legacy systems and build new applications quickly and economically, solutions like Microsoft's Connected Health Framework Architecture can provide an effective framework for implementing SOA and building the applications that can achieve this goal."

Microsoft Corp.