The Record - Issue 19: Winter 2020

122 www. t e c h n o l o g y r e c o r d . c om F E ATUR E the virus, as well as with companies and institu- tions in enabling a safer return to the workplace and school. Over the past year, Microsoft Teams showed its value as a communication tool as many work- forces migrated to working from home. Teams daily users grew from 20 million in November 2019 to 115 million in October 2020. It has ena- bled better remote collaboration and become a key to delivering virtual healthcare. “Teams and other Microsoft technologies have facilitated digital communications between patients and clinicians throughout the pan- demic,” says Rhew. “HoloLens has also been a key tool. A study by the Journal of Medical Internet Research reported that the UK’s NHS demonstrated a 51 per cent reduction in expo- sure to Covid-19 and an 83 per cent reduction in use of personal protective equipment, by using Hololens2 as part of in-hospital rounds.” At a time when healthcare resources are stretched to limits, Microsoft is also helping in the worldwide vaccine effort. “Microsoft is leaning in to provide the technol- ogy infrastructure to enable a fair, equitable and efficient distribution of a vaccine globally.” Rhew says that Microsoft aims to support some of the many challenges in this area, including cold chain requirements for the vaccines that require super freezing, booster doses that need to be administered three to four weeks after the first dose, increasing the number of individuals who register for vaccination, and phased scheduling of vaccinations. “Microsoft and our ecosystem of partners remain deeply committed to ensuring the suc- cess of this global vaccination effort,” says Rhew. “As our CEO Satya Nadella has said, ‘We are adopting a first responder mindset across the company, working with so many customers on the front lines, including governments, health providers, schools, food suppliers and other commercial customers critical to the continuity and stability of services in every country.’” But Rhew also emphasises that disparities in care remain widespread, they have been exac- erbated during the pandemic and continue to require comprehensive solutions. “During the pandemic, we have seen a tre- mendous uptake in and benefit from virtual care visits,” he says. “However, according to the Pew Research Center, approximately 113 mil- lion people in the USA do not have broadband access, which deepens the digital divide. Many of the individuals who do not have access to broadband will also need digital and healthcare literacy training and support in order to take advantage of the virtual care services.” Through its AirBand initiative, Microsoft is working to address this digital divide and democ- ratise access to virtual healthcare alternatives. But more needs to be done. “In terms of managing disease, social deter- minants and social influencers of care remain major impediments for positive behaviour change for many individuals,” says Rhew. “Programmes that address the lack of access to healthy foods, stable housing, affordable trans- portation and job insecurity have shown prom- ise, but relief is often temporary. We need large scale community-based programmes that can address the core issues and that have the finan- cial backing to ensure sustainability.” “ Teams and other Microsoft technologies have facilitated digital communications between patients and clinicians throughout the pandemic”