- Oracle acquires Cerner for $28.3 billion to transform healthcare using AI and medical data.
- Cerner’s EHR system riddled with glitches.
- Oracle struggles to fix issues, casting doubt on the contract and Ellison’s healthcare ambitions.
Dreaming big in the world of healthcare
‘s billionaire mastermind, had a grand vision: using the power of generative AI to transform healthcare by crunching massive amounts of medical data.
In 2021, Oracle took a $28.3 billion leap of faith by acquiring Cerner, a major player in the electronic health records (EHR) game. Little did they know, they were in for a bumpy ride!
Inheriting a high-tech headache
As Oracle dove into Cerner’s world, they quickly realized they had bought more than just a fancy filing system. Cerner’s EHR was riddled with glitches and hiccups, causing chaos at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Medical orders vanished into a mysterious “unknown queue,” leaving patients in limbo and even contributing to tragic outcomes. Oracle found itself in a race against the clock to untangle the mess they had inherited.
Ellison’s Lifelong Love Affair with Healthcare Ellison’s fascination with healthcare is no secret. He’s been dreaming of extending human life and tackling the industry’s toughest challenges for years.
Teaming up with rock-star oncologist Dr. David Agus, Ellison poured hundreds of millions of dollars into healthcare investments. With Cerner’s EHR data at his fingertips, Ellison believed he had the key to unlocking a medical revolution.
Navigating a minefield of glitches
Despite Oracle’s best efforts to steady the ship, Cerner’s system kept throwing curveballs. Outages, design blunders, and medication mix-ups continued to plague patient care.
As lawmakers and veterans’ advocates grew increasingly impatient, Oracle found itself in the hot seat.
The tech giant’s struggle to tame Cerner’s EHR beast has cast doubt on the future of the contract and Ellison’s lofty healthcare ambitions.
