WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp. has agreed to acquire the health intelligence software Azyxxi^TM and to forge a strategic alliance with MedStar Health.

Designed by doctors for doctors in one of the country's busiest hospitals, Azyxxi (rhymes with "Trixie") was created by Craig Feied, M.D., Mark Smith, M.D., and Fidrik Iskandar using Microsoft© development tools. It brings together all types of patient data from hundreds of sources and makes them instantly available at the point of care.

Azyxxi was first deployed in 1996 in the emergency department of one of MedStar Health's hospitals, Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, D.C. In addition to serving as a repository for all of a patient's routine clinical information, Azyxxi provides caregivers with instant access to a comprehensive view of each patient that includes EKGs, scanned documents, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans and even dynamic angiograms and ultrasound images. The acquisition of Azyxxi deepens Microsoft's commitment to the healthcare industry while making a proven solution more widely available to its customers. Financial terms were not disclosed as part of the agreement between the organizations.


Under the terms of the acquisition, the Azyxxi creators will continue to support the development and expansion of the Azyxxi solution. Drs. Feied and Iskandar, along with approximately 40 employees from the development team at Washington Hospital Center, will join Microsoft and continue to work on research and future enhancements to the product. Dr. Smith will remain as chairman of the emergency medicine department at Washington Hospital Center and will also serve as chief clinical liaison to Microsoft.

A newly formed division at Microsoft led by Peter Neupert, corporate vice president of the health solutions group, will incorporate the new employees and manage product development and delivery. Neupert rejoined Microsoft in September 2005 to coordinate its global health strategy. He reports to Craig Mundie, the company's chief research and strategy officer.

"Healthcare delivery is one of the top global challenges for governments, employers, caregivers and consumers. Microsoft believes that information technology can positively impact the situation by removing barriers and empowering physicians with instant access to critical patient data," Neupert said. "Azyxxi has demonstrated strong and clear benefits to physicians and other clinicians. We're excited to work with the original architects, MedStar Health and Washington Hospital Center, to increase R&D investment in Azyxxi and deliver a technology environment that will help advance the quality of healthcare for patients."

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