Set up and configure Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare
Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare relies on several capabilities within Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365.
Use the following to set up various components in Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare.
| Start here | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Azure | If you are interested in working with protected health information (PHI) data in your healthcare system and using intelligent virtual health assistants and health bots, use the following Azure capabilities: Azure Healthcare APIs (Preview) (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) and Microsoft Health Bot. |
| Microsoft Cloud Solution Center | If you are interested in solutions such as Care management, Home health, and Patient outreach, start with Microsoft Cloud Solution Center. This also lets your configure additional capabilities such as integrating with Microsoft Health Bot and Microsoft Teams, sync clinical data in your disparate systems with Azure Healthcare APIs (Preview), and so on. Microsoft Cloud Solution Center also lets you navigate to Microsoft 365 admin center for setting up virtual visits and additional capabilities. |
| Microsoft 365 admin center | If you are interested in capabilities such as virtual visits and health team collaboration, start with the Microsoft 365 admin center. Microsoft 365 admin center also lets you navigate to Microsoft Cloud Solution Center for setting up the Dynamics 365 capabilities listed earlier. |
Use Microsoft Azure for setup
Set up the following Azure capabilities to use in Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare:
Azure Healthcare APIs (Preview): The Azure Healthcare APIs (Preview) lets you quickly connect existing PHI data sources, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and research databases. Create new opportunities with analytics, machine learning, and actionable intelligence across your health data. It is required to power the following capabilities and solutions in Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare:
- Care management
- Home health
- Continuous patient monitoring
- Patient access
- Patient outreach
- Patient service center
More information: Deploy Azure Healthcare APIs (Preview)
Azure Health Bot: The Health Bot Service is a cloud platform that empowers developers in Healthcare organizations to build and deploy their compliant, AI-powered virtual health assistants and health bots, that help them improve processes and reduce costs. You can use the Health Bot in the portal from the Patient access solution to handle patient questions automatically. For patient service agents to take over, you need to further connect the bot conversations to the Patient service center.
More information: Use Azure Health Bot
Use the Microsoft Cloud Solution Center for setup
Microsoft Cloud Solution Center provides a central place to deploy and configure the following solutions powered by Dynamics 365:
- Care management
- Home health
- Patient access
- Patient outreach
- Patient service center
1. Deploy Dynamics 365 solutions in Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare
Use Microsoft Cloud Solution Center to deploy the solutions.
More information: Deploy the Healthcare solutions powered by Dynamics 365
2. Configure the Dynamics 365 solutions in Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare
During the deployment of the healthcare solutions, you can also configure additional capabilities such as integrating with Azure Health Bot and Microsoft Teams, sync clinical data in your disparate systems with Azure Healthcare APIs (Preview) (Fast Health Interoperability Resources), and so on.
More information: Configuration of the Healthcare solutions powered by Dynamics 365
Use the Microsoft 365 admin center for setup
You need the following features from Microsoft 365:
| Product or feature | Available with |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams | Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium, and all Enterprise SKUs |
| Microsoft Bookings (optional) | Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium, A3, A5, E3, or E5 |
| Microsoft 365 EHR integration. Integration is available with the Cerner and Epic platforms. | Part of the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare Add-on or as a Stand-alone (coming soon). |
To set up these features and capabilities, you need to:
1. Check licensing
Ensure that you have Microsoft 365, you have added Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, and you have checked your licensing. For more about Microsoft Teams for Healthcare organizations, go to Get started with Teams for Healthcare organizations.
2. Integrate Teams with Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Microsoft Teams Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) connector makes it easy for clinicians to launch a virtual patient visit or consultation with another provider in Teams. Instead of navigating traditionally fragmented systems, clinicians can use the streamlined communication and collaboration features of Teams, so they can focus on providing the best possible care. If you have an EHR already, you can connect Teams with that EHR.
- Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center to integrate Teams with your Cerner EHR system or Epic EHR system.
3. Set up Microsoft Bookings (optional)
If you are not using an EHR, you can use Microsoft Bookings and the Bookings app in Teams to schedule virtual visits.
- Set up Microsoft Bookings and the Bookings app and virtual visits in Microsoft Teams.
4. Configure secure messaging
Messaging policies are used to control which chat and channel messaging features are available to users in Teams. These policies are part of the overall deployment of Secure Messaging for Healthcare organizations like hospitals, clinics, or doctor's offices, where having a message picked up and acted upon in a timely manner is crucial, as is knowing when crucial messages are read.
- Configure secure messaging in Teams.
5. Deploy the Teams policy packages
A policy package in Teams is a collection of predefined policies and policy settings that you can assign to users who have similar roles in your organization. Policy packages simplify, streamline, and help provide consistency when managing policies. You can customize the settings of the policies in the package to suit the needs of your users. When you change the settings of policies in a policy package, all users who are assigned to that package get the updated settings.
- Deploy Teams policy packages.
6. Deploy team templates
Team templates in Teams allow you to quickly and easily create teams by providing a predefined template of settings, channels, and preinstalled apps. For healthcare organizations, templates can be especially powerful, as they provide structure for users to become oriented with how to best leverage Teams effectively. Templates also allow administrators to deploy consistent teams across their organizations.
- Deploy team templates in Teams.
7. Enable the Shifts app in Teams (optional)
You can schedule your internal staff using the Shifts app in Teams. Staff members and managers can manage schedules and keep in touch, even on mobile devices.
- Enable the Shifts app in Microsoft Teams.
8. Enable the Lists app in Teams (optional)
The Lists app in Teams helps users in your healthcare organization track information, organize work, and manage workflows. With Lists, you can track data such as issues, inventory, patients, and more using customizable views, rules, and alerts to keep everyone on the team in sync. The Lists app includes a Patients list template specifically created for healthcare.
- Enable the Lists app in Microsoft Teams.