We're proud to share that Switchboard Health has won the Microsoft Rural Health AI Lab (RHAIL) "Referral Router" Challenge, presented in partnership with ScaleHealth at the American Hospital Association Rural Health Leadership Conference on February 10, 2026.

The Challenge

Microsoft's Rural Health Resiliency (RHR) Program brings AI, innovation, and technology resources to rural hospitals and health providers across the US. The RHAIL Referral Router Challenge was designed to surface AI-enabled solutions that address one of rural healthcare's most persistent problems: connecting patients to timely, appropriate specialty care despite geographic, administrative, and systemic barriers.

Finalists were selected based on demonstrated potential to improve care navigation, strengthen handoffs, and increase the likelihood that patients complete referrals — with solutions built on or integrated with Microsoft cloud and AI technologies, including Azure, Copilot, Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, and Microsoft 365.

Switchboard Was Selected as a Finalist

On February 2, 2026, ScaleHealth and Microsoft announced Switchboard Health as one of three finalists for the challenge, alongside Bauhealth and Afya Global. Switchboard was recognized for its care navigation platform that matches patients with high-value specialty care and streamlines referral coordination — a critical need in underserved and remote regions.

As described in the announcement: "Through sophisticated data integration and a nationwide specialty network, Switchboard improves care continuity and reduces administrative burden for rural providers. Its platform supports more efficient scheduling and more accurate patient-to-provider matching." Read the press release.

The Win

On February 10, Switchboard presented its solution to a panel of rural hospital leaders at the AHA Rural Health Leadership Conference in the "Pitching AI to Improve Outbound Referrals" session — and won.

This recognition reflects what we've believed from day one: that the specialty care navigation problem is urgent, solvable, and especially acute for patients in rural and underserved communities. We're grateful to Microsoft, ScaleHealth, and the AHA for creating the space to elevate solutions like ours — and to the rural health leaders who are committed to transforming care access for their communities.

"Accessing specialty care can be tough for anyone, but it's especially challenging for rural Americans.  We're excited to work with Microsoft, ScaleHealth, and rural hospitals to make sure patients in all parts of the country can get the care they need." - Derek Baird, CEO and Co-Founder

About the Microsoft Rural Health AI Lab

The RHAIL program, led by Microsoft's Rural Health Resiliency Program in partnership with ScaleHealth, accelerates AI-enabled tools that improve access, care continuity, and operational resilience in resource-limited settings. Learn more about the RHAIL Referral Router Challenge.