At the HIMSS healthcare conference this week, Microsoft is announcing several new capabilities in Microsoft Teams targeting the healthcare market. Due to the pandemic, virtual appointments in healthcare are growing at a rapid pace. Microsoft today announced new features to improve the virtual appointment experience using Teams.
Schedule on-demand appointments:

With this new scheduling capability, patients can now book appointments with their provider. Hospitals can can see and monitor on-demand appointments in a queue view through the Microsoft Bookings app in Teams.
Collect key information for virtual appointments with Microsoft Forms:

Using Microsoft Forms and the Microsoft Bookings app, hospitals can collect patient responses and review them as part of the visit.
Help ensure patient devices are working correctly for the appointment:

The new device tester experience will allow patients to test their hardware settings before their virtual appointment. This feature is now available through the Microsoft Teams EHR connector.
Send SMS appointment reminders:

SMS reminders for virtual appointments is coming to customers in the United Kingdom.
See analytics from your virtual appointments

Admins can now gain insights into key data including lobby wait time, impact of SMS notifications, appointment duration and more in the Microsoft Teams Admin Center for appointments scheduled through Microsoft Bookings and the Microsoft Teams electronic health record (EHR) connector.
Microsoft Teams EHR connector for Cerner

The new integration with Cerner is now generally available. The Microsoft Teams EHR connector offers powerful integration capabilities across healthcare.
- Providers can schedule and launch virtual appointments directly from Cerner PowerChart, effortlessly invite other care team members to virtual appointments, and gain real-time status reports of their visits to help improve patient care.
- System administrators have access to simplified setup and configuration management directly in the EHR connector portal and can easily access downloadable consumption reports and call quality boards.
- Patients can test their device before the appointment, launch the appointment from SMS or email (without the need to download the Teams app), and will wait in a custom lobby before they are admitted by the provider.
Teladoc Health Solo Microsoft Teams

Microsoft today announced the general availability of Teladoc Health Solo with Microsoft Teams.
Teladoc Health Solo with Teams simplifies the way healthcare organizations and care providers work by streamlining technologies and administrative processes, so clinicians can focus on what matters most—delivering high-quality patient care.