Geisinger moves to AWS cloud in a decision expected to save millions annually
The cost savings will allow Geisinger to invest in tech to make "better health easier," says CIO.
Geisinger Medical Center
Photo courtesy Geisinger
Geisinger has announced that it has chosen Amazon Web Services as its strategic cloud provider.
The decision comes after a detailed multiyear review and selection process that identified transitioning to AWS would help save the health system several million annually after implementation is completed, Geisinger said.
Geisinger is among the largest electronic health records migrations to AWS to date, according to the health system. As part of the agreement, Geisinger plans to transition its entire digital portfolio of more than 400 applications and numerous workflows to AWS.
Geisinger has also committed to comprehensive cloud skills training for the vast majority of its 24,000 employees. Training is already underway and will be ongoing over the next five years.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The move is more than about migrating applications to the cloud, according to John Kravitz, Geisinger's chief information officer.
The cost savings can be used to invest in technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning that enable teams to create workflow efficiencies for employees to increase productivity while streamlining daily work, Kravitz said by statement. All of this will improve quality of care, "making better health easier," he said.
THE LARGER TREND
Tufts Medicine also this week announced that it has succeeded in deploying its digital health ecosystem in the cloud, moving more than 40 disparate applications and its Epic electronic health record to an Amazon Web Services-hosted environment.
At HIMSS22 in Orlando this past March, executives for UC Davis Health, Anthem and Seattle Children's Hospital addressed technology and health equity, saying they all worked with AWS as their cloud provider.
Amazon's cloud division introduced AWS for Health in July 2021.
Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the integrated health system includes 10 hospital campuses.
ON THE RECORD
"This is more than migrating applications to the cloud," said John Kravitz, Geisinger's chief information officer. "We know that rapidly evolving technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, can help save lives. Not to mention that this will make our staff more agile and responsive so they can spend more time at the bedside, where our patients need them most.
"At the end of the day, everything we do at Geisinger is about making better health easier. This effort is no different. Technology is something that enables us to carry out our vision."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
