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In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Sergei Shutov, Don Woodlock, Dr Tullawat Pacharapha, Dr Apichai Chaiyaroj and Dr Trent Dean to discuss hospital digital transformation, regional innovation, interoperability and AI integration in healthcare across Asia-Pacific.

The episode, recorded live during InterSystems Asia READY 2026 in Bangkok, provides a snapshot of conversations with healthcare executives and technology partners on their strategies for modernisation, collaborative approaches, and the challenges and opportunities unique to the region.

Their discussion includes the role of integration in building a strong digital foundation, the importance of bringing clinicians into the design of new systems, and the rise of AI scribes and ambient documentation.

The guests also discuss the promise of the FHIR standard for data interoperability, the gradual journey of building trust in AI, and the need to keep patient experience, privacy and safety at the centre of every decision.

They also share how hospitals in Australia and Asia are approaching the shift from reactive to proactive, preventive care.

Key Takeaways

🦾 AI adoption is being driven aggressively in Asia-Pacific, with both operational and clinical opportunities emerging

🌏 Hospitals in the region can leapfrog legacy issues by moving directly from paper to advanced digital platforms

🔗 Integration and interoperability remain fundamental challenges; Data lakes and FHIR standards are critical focus areas

🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Partnerships and collaborative ecosystems between vendors, clinicians, and IT leaders are essential for successful transformation

⏳ Clinician and patient perspectives on digital change need continuous engagement, co-design, and focus on trust

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:41 – Sergei Shutov, Managing Director, Banksia Global

07:06 – Don Woodlock, President, InterSystems

16:49 – Dr Trent Dean, CEO, Gateway Health

25:33 – Dr Tullawat Pacharapha, COO, Vejthani International Hospital, Thailand

29:05 – Dr Apichai Chaiyaroj, Assistant Hospital Director, BNH Hospital, Thailand

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Brett Sellars, Head of Clinical Solutions, and Chris Reid, Platform Specialist, from Healthcare Logic.

The conversation looks at data-driven decision-making in healthcare, the evolution and real-world use of command centres, and how the strategic use of information can improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

The trio discusses the importance of clinician-led co-design, balancing technology with human factors and the challenges of introducing new solutions across diverse healthcare settings.

They also cover why dashboards and alerts need to be tailored to each role, how change fatigue affects hospital staff and why AI and automation should be approached with care.

The episode also touches on the value of connecting hospitals in Australia and overseas so lessons learned in one setting can help improve care in another.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Co-design between clinicians and tech teams is critical for practical data solutions in healthcare

🔍 Real-time data enables preemptive, informed responses rather than reactive "firefighting"

📊 It’s essential to tailor data displays and tools to the roles and needs of users, from executives to front-line clinicians

🤝 Change management and end-user adoption are crucial for technology to affect daily clinical workflows

🌏 Sharing knowledge and playbooks across organisations contributes to collective improvements in Australian and global health systems

Timestamps

00:00 - Episode and guest introductions

01:02 - Brett Sellars shares clinical background

02:26 - Chris Reid discusses data’s patient impact

05:29 - Real-world impact of real-time data

08:43 - Determining relevant data for clinicians

12:41 - Co-design and resolving stakeholder needs

14:51 - Visualisation, roles, and change management

20:00 - Readiness of healthcare systems for implementation

24:53 - Direction of healthcare technology and AI’s role

29:33 - Brett Sellars on leaving a positive legacy in healthcare

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Andrew Pearce from HIMSS, Lily Liu, Director of Digital Health at Western Health, Aurel Qian from SenseTime Medical, and Dr Jong-Soo Choi from Samsung Medical Center about digital transformation, AI, and healthcare system innovation across the Asia-Pacific region.

The conversation covers approaches to digital benchmarking, connected care, shadow AI, AI adoption infrastructure, and robotics in hospital logistics.

Recorded during HIMSS26 Asia Pacific in Singapore, this episode brings together a range of perspectives from across the region, each guest offering a different lens on what it takes to modernise healthcare at scale.

From navigating legacy hospital systems to building the networks and standards that support safe, sustainable AI adoption, the discussions explore what's really driving digital transformation on the ground.

They also look at what still needs to be solved before technology can deliver on its promise for patients and staff alike.

This episode is part of our HIMSS26 APAC coverage, recorded live in Singapore. Catch the rest of the conversations in the Talking HealthTech @ HIMSS26 APAC on YouTube, or on your favourite podcast platforms.

Key Takeaways

💡 The HIMSS global standards offer consistent benchmarking for digital health maturity across diverse Asia-Pacific health systems, enabling collaboration and knowledge sharing.

🤝 Connected care remains a central priority for APAC governments, focusing on interoperability across hospitals, clinics, and aged care to drive improved patient outcomes.

🦾 AI is increasingly woven into healthcare, from "shadow AI" practices within organisations to structured infrastructure aiding clinical decisions and operations.

🔋 Acceptance of AI in healthcare is shaped by government policy, infrastructure, and public engagement, with APAC nations like China advancing large-scale deployment strategies.

🤖 Automation, such as robotics in hospitals, is reducing manual workloads and enabling clinicians, especially nurses, to focus on direct patient care.

Timestamps

00:11 - Peter Birch, Host Introduction

00:41 - Andrew Pearce, Vice President, Analytics and Global Advisory Lead, HIMSS

07:30 - Lily Liu - Director, Digital Health, Western Health, Divisional Director, Digital Health, Western Health

12:50 - Aurel Qian, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, SenseTime Medical

23:57 - Dr Jong-Soo Choi, CTO, Samsung Medical Center

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jacqueline Leeds, CEO of Rauland Australia and New Zealand, alongside a panel of leaders working across digital health.

Panellists include Tim Leen, Acting Director at the Office of Medical Research and Innovation, WA Health, Claire Lake, Chief Nursing Information Officer at Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Brad Guelfi, Senior Solution Architect at St John of God Healthcare, and Vickie Knight, General Manager, Clinical Services at Rauland.

The discussion explores digital transformation in healthcare as Western Australia enters the largest health system expansion in its history.

The panel looks at the integration of technology across hospitals, lessons learned from real-world system deployments, and why bringing clinicians and end users along from the start is so important.

They also share their views on workflow mapping, communication, governance and the importance of collaboration between clinicians, executives and technology providers.

This episode was recorded live at an event hosted by Rauland Australia & New Zealand in Kings Park, Perth, on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.

Key Takeaways

💡 Unified digital platforms and single device strategies can lead to more streamlined communication and reduced alarm fatigue in healthcare settings.

💡 Lessons learned from past technology implementations, including failures, are critical to improving future digital healthcare projects.

💡 Including end users, especially clinicians and frontline staff, at every stage of technology design and rollout ensures new systems are truly fit for purpose.

💡 Effective communication and change management are essential when implementing large-scale digital health projects, especially in complex environments.

💡 Proper resourcing, strong governance, and collaborative leadership models help deliver sustainable and effective digital transformation.

Timestamps

00:00 - Episode introduction and event context

01:18 - Jacqueline Leeds outlines Rauland's history and Concentric Care platform

10:04 - Claire Lake discusses new hospital digital deployments

12:05 - Tim Leen shares healthcare innovation and technology experiences

14:09 - Vickie Knight reflects on bridging clinical and technology roles

15:41 - Brad Guelfi describes building technology-enabled hospitals

32:04 - Advice for healthcare leaders on digital strategy

34:06 - Communicating and managing digital change

37:00 - The importance of resourcing transformation projects

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Bin Rong, CEO, and Bowen Zheng, Head of Engineering at Facere AI.

The discussion explores how Facere AI is tackling administrative inefficiencies in healthcare through AI-powered solutions such as document routing, automated workflows, and AI receptionist technology.

The conversation covers the founding story of Facere AI, which began after the team saw how much time social workers spent on paperwork instead of helping people directly.

Bin and Bowen share why building an AI receptionist demo is simple but making it work in a real clinic is far more difficult, and how the team has worked to balance cost, speed, and intelligence.

They also discuss how their voice agent now responds in under two seconds and completes roughly 70% to 75% of calls, compared with about 20% for many generic AI receptionists.

The episode looks at how automated referral workflows keep admin staff in control, whether patients should always know when they are speaking with AI, and the company's vision for future automation, while emphasising a clear boundary from clinical judgement areas.

Key Takeaways

🤖 AI can relieve admin burdens in healthcare by automating document routing, allocation, and phone reception tasks, enabling staff to focus on patient care.

📞 Building a reliable AI receptionist for real-world clinics is complex, with challenges like accuracy, latency, and cost forming the "impossible triangle" of requirements.

🚦 Facere AI's technology pushes the envelope in speed and understanding, achieving sub-2-second latency and higher call completion rates compared to leading global systems.

📈 The vision is to automate up to 95% of daily non-clinical workflows, increasing efficiency without replacing jobs, but always keeping human staff in decision-making roles.

🩺 Facere AI intentionally avoids automating clinical judgement or high-level professional assessments, focusing solely on non-clinical, manual admin tasks.

Timestamps

00:00 — Episode introduction and guest backgrounds

03:27 — Healthcare admin burdens and company founding story

05:01 — Automating document routing and AI receptionist explained

07:26 — Technical challenges in live AI reception and solutions

12:54 — Demo: Automated referral and appointment workflow

19:48 — Vision for broader healthcare workflow automation

22:06 — What Facere AI will and won’t automate in healthcare

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Violeta Addamo, founder and managing director at WHITECAT, and David Bellamy, vice president for the World Federation of Hospital Sterilisation Services and president of the New South Wales Sterilisation Research and Advisory Council of Australia.

Violeta shares how her path into healthtech began in environmental science before moving through dental and surgical sales, eventually leading to the founding of WHITECAT six years ago, built on CareTag, a Danish RFID system for surgical instrument management. David brings his standing as a recognised industry leader in sterilisation through his role representing the WFHSS on the global stage.

The conversation explores the challenges and advancements in surgical instrument traceability, the implementation of RFID technology in sterilisation departments, compliance with unique device identification (UDI) requirements, and global practices in healthtech for instrument management

The episode also covers how Central Sterile Services Departments (CSSD) manage the cleaning, sterilisation, and tracking of surgical instruments, and the risks that arise when these processes rely on manual systems such as paper logs and barcode scanning.

It also looks at how RFID and real-time location systems are being trialled to improve visibility across the instrument lifecycle, reduce search times, and support faster responses to sterility breaches or recalls.

Further topics include the regulatory landscape shaping instrument management in Australia and abroad, including requirements set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards, as well as comparisons with practices in Europe and emerging trials across Asia.

The discussion closes with a look at what these advancements mean for the future of surgical safety and hospital efficiency.

Key Takeaways

🛠 The importance of surgical instrument traceability for both patient safety and operational efficiency in healthcare settings

📡 The evolution and adoption of RFID technology for real-time tracking of surgical instruments, including the limitations of traditional data matrix approaches

📝 The introduction of UDI requirements in Australia and the implications for compliance and traceability in sterilisation processes

🔄 How digitisation and technology reduce manual effort, errors, and the time required to handle equipment recalls

🌏 A comparison of global approaches to sterilisation and traceability, highlighting differences in technology adoption between Australia, Europe, and the USA

Timestamps

00:00 - Introductions and guest backgrounds

02:06 - Real-time location tracking and RFID in surgical instruments

05:03 - Traceability challenges and compliance requirements

09:01 - RFID vs data matrix for instrument-level tracking

10:47 - UDI compliance and future standards

15:40 - Manual vs digital recall management

22:51 - Global perspectives and best practices

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Craig Simmonds, CEO & Founder of Propell, about the growth and acceptance of remote patient monitoring devices in Australian healthcare.

Together, they cover the mainstreaming of virtual care, future directions for device technology, and the practical challenges and opportunities in rolling out devices like iHealth across hospital and home care.

They discuss what's driving hospitals to move beyond pilot programmes and treat remote monitoring as a core part of everyday care, including how NSW Health's rollout of iHealth devices is shaping the way patients with chronic disease or post-acute needs are supported at home.

The conversation also covers the shift from episodic, patient-initiated checks toward continuous physiological monitoring, along with the importance of integrating patient data with hospital systems for real-time clinical intervention.

It also looks at how services are working to close the digital divide by providing patients with fully set-up devices and tablets.

Craig shares insights from his experience navigating TGA approval, funding models across different states, and what it takes to keep programmes focused on genuine clinical outcomes rather than technology for its own sake.

Key Takeaways

🩺 NSW Health's large-scale adoption of iHealth devices is a major shift towards mainstream remote patient monitoring in hospital-in-the-home programs

💡 Clinical accuracy and integration with hospital systems are critical for monitoring devices, distinguishing them from general consumer wearables

📱 Simplicity, usability, and clinical reliability are fundamental criteria when selecting and deploying health monitoring devices

🔋 New devices such as Vital Patch are enabling continuous, real-time monitoring of key vitals like ECG and respiration rate

🌏 The adoption of virtual care and remote monitoring is accelerating nationwide, not just in rural/remote locations but also in metropolitan settings

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Craig Simmonds and Propell

05:45 - NSW Health iHealth device rollout

07:37 - Core measurements: vital signs at home

10:43 - Data integration and real-time hospital alerts

13:30 - Funding and logistics for device programs

16:27 - Usability and support for patients

21:08 - Future: continuous devices and the Vital Patch

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Andy Hurt, Head of Strategic Accounts at Ericom, and Sam Yang, Co-founder and CEO at Xandar Kardian.

The discussion focuses on contactless, continuous vital signs monitoring using impulse ultra-wideband radar technology, exploring how this approach differs from traditional wearables, cameras, and threshold-based alarm systems.

The conversation covers practical applications in health and aged care, palliative care, mental health, and correctional settings, along with regulatory considerations such as FDA and TGA clearance.

Andy and Sam discuss data-driven care models, the role of individualised patient baselines, and how longitudinal data can reveal deterioration days before it becomes clinically apparent.

They also touch on the cost and system-wide benefits of early detection, the importance of integrating this technology into existing clinical workflows, and its emerging potential in low-resource and global health settings.

Throughout, the episode highlights the impact of predictive baseline data on prioritising clinical resources and improving patient outcomes.

Key Takeaways

🔎 Contactless radar-based monitoring addresses privacy and compliance issues found with cameras and wearables

🩺 Continuous monitoring provides longitudinal health data to inform clinical workflows and early intervention

💡 The technology assists rather than replaces clinicians, supporting prioritisation and proactive care

🌏 Regulatory approvals in multiple countries, including FDA (US) and TGA (Australia), underpin adoption

🚑 Early detection reduces hospital admissions, ambulance use, and overall costs, with use cases in remote and resource-limited environments

Timestamps

02:31 - Radar-based, contactless health monitoring explained

07:02 - Clinical and aged care use cases

11:06 - Early intervention and POBC method

13:00 - Regulatory pathways and global expansion

14:50 - Impact on healthcare system and cost savings

18:51 - Handling alarm fatigue and baseline deviations

22:34 - Integration into health facility workflows

25:15 - Broader global and low-resource applications

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Aaron Leibtag, Co Founder of Pentavere, now part of HEALWELL AI (TSX: AIDX), where he is Global Health Systems Leader.

The conversation covers Aaron Leibtag's transition from finance to healthtech, the founding story of Pentavere, a HEALWELL AI company, how AI technology is being leveraged to improve healthcare data utilisation, the practical impact of these solutions in real health settings, and what partnerships with organisations like Orion Health mean for the future of health systems in Australia and beyond.

Aaron explains why roughly 80% of existing health data sits unused, buried in free-text notes, referral letters and PDFs that analytics and decision-support tools rarely reach.

He walks through how Pentavere's DARWEN™ AI engine works, using natural language processing to read and interpret that material and build summaries that reflect the judgement of clinical experts, with full source document verification so clinicians can trust what they are seeing.

The discussion also looks at the SMARTSummary powered by DARWEN™ AI pilot delivered with Canada Health Infoway and integrated directly into the EMR, alongside close to eighty real-world evidence studies run across Canada, the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

From there, the conversation turns to the ethics, privacy and governance questions that come with deploying AI in clinical settings.

Peter and Aaron close on what Australia's existing health information exchanges make possible, why medical error and missed screenings remain such costly problems, and why solving the basics matters more than chasing the next breakthrough.

Key Takeaways

🩺 The majority of documented healthcare data remains unused, with AI technology now helping to extract and utilise this information for patient benefit

🌏 Implementation of AI-driven real-world evidence studies is already underway in countries including Canada, the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia

⏱️ AI tools that summarise patient data significantly reduce clinician administrative load and improve accuracy in patient care decisions

🔒 Ethical, secure, and compliant deployment of AI in healthcare is a global priority, with regions like Europe leading on policy frameworks

🤝 Partnerships with organisations like Orion Health are helping accelerate access, interoperability, and clinical utility of healthcare data in Australia and globally

Timestamps

00:01 — Introduction & guest background

03:01 — Why healthcare data is underutilised

05:10 — Real-world AI implementations

07:57 — Immediate and long-term impact of solutions

15:06 — Clinician-level AI tools

21:10 — Orion Health’s role in the Australian context

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Chris Jones, Founder and Clinical Director at HosPortal, about the evolution of clinical rostering in Australian healthcare, the integration of AI in medical workforce management, and shifts in work-life balance for healthcare practitioners.

The discussion covers how HosPortal is addressing the complex challenges of scheduling across diverse medical craft groups, the impact of digital transformation on hospital operations, and the growing importance of customisable solutions and ongoing user support.

HosPortal has been rebuilt from a clean slate and has roughly doubled in capability, and the software now runs across every state in Australia, covering anaesthesia, emergency departments, radiology, junior medical doctors and radiographers.

Chris explains why the current build focus is junior doctor term placement, a problem most hospitals are still solving with survey forms and spreadsheets, and how the team designs for complexity they have not been told about yet.

The conversation also gets into where AI genuinely earns its place inside clinical software. Chris describes agents that turn a plain-language description of a rostering rule into a working rule, and agents that do the task rather than point users at a help file.

He shares his view that diagnostic radiology will be fully replaced by AI within five years, along with the ten-times-better test he applies to it, and paints a picture of an emergency department avatar that is endlessly patient and never tired.

Underneath all of it sits a point about people. Chris argues that doctors working fewer hours with better supervision is a net good for clinicians and patients alike, and that the real cost of fatigue is doctors who quietly stop caring.

Key Takeaways

🩺 The complexity of clinical rostering is growing, driven by specialist requirements, junior doctor preferences, and a broader focus on work-life balance.

💻 A major rebuild of Hosportal's platform has enabled greater customisation, scalability, and more sophisticated automation across Australian hospitals.

🤖 AI is playing an increasing role in both automating roster construction and making the system easier for end-users to interact with, including the use of natural language agents.

🧠 There has been a cultural shift in healthcare, with greater attention on clinician mental health and safer working hours, positively impacting staff and patient safety.

🌏 The future roadmap for Hosportal includes continued AI integration, product refinement, and expansion beyond Australia into new international markets.

Timestamps

00:00 - Hosportal introduction & background

02:27 - Rostering problems & user experience

04:13 - Shifting work-life balance for doctors

07:17 - Customisation and customer-driven solutions

11:30 - AI features & natural language tools

13:44 - AI's role in the future of healthcare

31:04 - Roadmap and international expansion

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Peter O'Halloran from the Australian Digital Health Agency, and Farhoud Salimi and Dr Monica Trujillo from Telstra Health, about the current state and future of interoperability in Australian healthcare.

The discussion covers why seamless data sharing is crucial, how policy, technology, and consumer expectations are driving change, and the evolving roles of national infrastructure like My Health Record.

The group unpacks how the shift from paper to digital created a new problem, with information locked inside systems built for a single hospital, practice or specialty.

They talk through the real cost of that fragmentation, from repeated tests and retold medical histories to the harm that occurs when clinicians do not have what they need at the point of care.

The episode closes on what success looks like by 2030, including a future where interoperability is no longer a talking point, data simply arrives inside the workflow, and connected care reaches rural and regional Australia as reliably as it does the capital cities.

Key Takeaways

💡 The priority now is not convincing stakeholders of the need for interoperability but implementing practical solutions for data sharing in healthcare

💡 Modernising "classic" or legacy systems is a major challenge, but new platforms are being built with interoperability and patient-centricity at their core

💡 Consumer expectations are rapidly evolving, with an increasing demand for immediate access to health information and digital-enabled care

💡 My Health Record has shifted from being a basic repository to becoming central infrastructure, supporting real-time, secure, and routine data sharing

💡 Incorrect or incomplete health data, particularly when combined with AI, can lead to safety risks, reinforcing the need for better standards and data quality

Timestamps

00:00: Introduction & framing the interoperability challenge

01:09: Evolution and urgency for healthcare data sharing

03:07: Patient impact and consumer stories

08:47: Practical use cases and technology improvements

12:48: Urgency, burning platforms, and risks of inaction

19:02: The role and future of My Health Record

22:52: Interoperability at Telstra Health and industry collaboration

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Rae Donovan, Chief Clinical Information Officer at e-Health Queensland, Professor Peter Steel, Associate Dean of Digital Health and Informatics at the University of Melbourne and Chief Transformation Officer at Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Anita Ghose, Founder and CEO of inventiveX, at HIC 2026, hosted by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.

Recorded on the sidelines of the conference, the conversation brings together perspectives from frontline clinical practice, academic leadership, and industry innovation, offering a well-rounded look at where Australia's digital health sector is heading.

The discussion covers digital health innovation, advancing clinical AI in Australia, workforce enablement, women in digital leadership, and the ongoing transformation of healthcare through technology-driven collaboration.

The conversation also touches on the gap between technical ambition and everyday clinical reality, including how outdated hospital systems and clunky electronic medical records continue to shape the day-to-day experience of clinicians.

Together, the guests unpack what it takes to modernise ageing hospital systems, build local expertise in clinical AI, and create lasting pathways for women in digital health careers, drawing on real experience from the clinic floor, the university, and the boardroom.

Key Takeaways

💡 Workforce enablement in digital health involves not just technical training, but supporting ongoing learning, retention, and the evolution of clinical workflows with new technologies.

💡 Clinical AI development in Australia needs hubs or ecosystems of excellence to concentrate capabilities and deliver region-wide benefits, rather than isolated innovation.

💡 Women remain underrepresented in tech roles, and programs focused on digital health leadership can bridge gaps through mentoring, networking, and targeted initiatives.

💡 Technology in healthcare must evolve beyond digitising paper processes to provide more intuitive, AI-enabled, and context-aware support for clinicians.

💡 Networks, global connections, and sponsorship are critical for developing future leadership and sustaining momentum in digital health transformation.

Timestamps

00:00 - Peter Birch | Episode introduction and HIC overview

00:33 - Dr. Rae Donovan | Workforce enablement & networking

07:58 - Professor Peter Steel | Clinical AI innovation & hubs

13:42 - Anita Ghose | Women in Digital Health Leadership Program

19:54 - Anita Ghose | Mentoring and legacy networks

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

Talking HealthTech (THT) is Australia's leading media company for health tech conversations, connecting decision-makers, innovators and doers across the healthcare industry.

Hosted by Peter Birch, our weekly podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in healthcare innovation from around the world. Alongside the show, we run a newsletter, active social channels and a comprehensive glossary of digital health terms, so you've got one place to stay across the industry.

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*About Pete*

Peter Birch has spent his career in healthcare operations, from running GP clinics and global medical assistance centres to being first hire at multiple health tech startups. He now sits on the boards of industry groups and health tech companies, bringing that experience into every conversation on the show.

Timestamps:

0:00 Welcome to Talking HealthTech - podcast, newsletter, social and glossary

0:22 THT+ Community: our space for health tech doers and builders

0:41 THT Productions: video storytelling for healthcare

1:03 About Pete: from GP clinics to health tech startups

1:32 Real conversations that improve patient outcomes

1:47 Subscribe, follow and join the newsletter

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#HealthTech #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcarePodcast #HealthTechAustralia

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Manuel Pérez Vallina, former CIO in the Spanish health system, Femi Ladega, Group Chief Digital Officer at Dedalus, and Dr Vinod Seetharaman, Chief Medical Officer for Dedalus in Australia and New Zealand.

The discussion covers the evolution of hospital command centres, the shift from using dashboards for retrospective data towards enabling proactive, real-time operational decisions, and how these changes impact clinical workflows and patient outcomes across different health systems.

Recorded live, the conversation draws on experience building one of Spain's first hospital command centres alongside lessons from health systems in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The panel unpacks why familiar pressures such as underused operating theatres, growing waiting lists and bed shortages appear so consistently across borders, and what separates a command centre from a wall of screens.

Along the way, they examine the four principles that determine whether the model delivers real change, the cultural and governance work that sits behind the technology, the role artificial intelligence can play in filtering meaningful signals, and the practical first steps for organisations weighing up where to begin.

Key Takeaways

🚑 Hospital command centres enable real-time, actionable insights beyond traditional dashboards, improving operational efficiency and patient care.

🛠️ Implementing command centre solutions requires aligning technology, organisational culture, and governance to drive sustained change.

📊 Demonstrating value and securing investment means clearly defining the use case, limiting initial project scope, and engaging stakeholders early.

⚡ Effective change management and clinician engagement are crucial for successful adoption and maximising impact.

🌐 Challenges and solutions discussed are common globally, but must be tailored to local healthcare system maturity and needs.

Timestamps

00:00 - Episode introduction & topic overview

03:42 - Manuel Pérez Vallina on Spain’s command centre journey

05:55 - Femi Ladega: Global perspectives and data orchestration

08:29 - Dr Vinod Seetharaman on capacity management challenges

10:26 - Command centres vs. dashboards

19:02 - Clinical benefits and flow management

22:13 - Stakeholder engagement and return on investment

32:07 - Real-world impacts and cascading benefits

39:48 - Implementation challenges and change management

48:59 - Integrating AI, primary care, and data governance

53:45 - Final advice for hospital leaders

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Steve Saunders, Healthcare Principle at RingCentral, about what is really at stake for Australian healthcare organisations still running on legacy phone systems and why the move to cloud-based communications is becoming increasingly urgent.

They cover the risks of relying on ageing PABX infrastructure, the barriers that slow down migration decisions and how a modular, evolutionary approach to modernisation can reduce risk and build confidence across an organisation.

The conversation also gets into the role of AI and automation in transforming how healthcare manages calls, appointments and patient interactions, as well as the critical importance of data sovereignty, privacy and security when moving to cloud-based platforms.

Steve shares why voice remains the most important communication channel in healthcare, why general-purpose tools are not built for clinical environments, and what healthcare leaders should look for when choosing a long-term technology partner rather than a one-off supplier.

For more information check out RingCentral at www.talkinghealthtech.com/ringcentral

Have a question about this episode? Reach out directly to Steve:

Steve Saunders

Healthcare Principle | RingCentral

📞 +61-2-9157-6831

✉️ Steve.saunders@ringcentral.com

Key Takeaways

📞 Voice communication remains the number one application in healthcare, with unique requirements compared to other sectors.

☁️ Healthcare is at a crossroads, moving away from legacy on-premise PABX phone systems towards resilient, cloud-based communications platforms.

🤖 AI tools are being used for pre-interaction triage, live transcription, translation, and post-call analytics to improve efficiency and patient experience.

🛡 Data sovereignty and security are top priorities, with strict compliance with Australian regulations and onshore data processing for AI.

🔄 Major barriers for adoption are fear of change and complacency, not just competition from other vendors.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction & guest background

00:37 - Why voice is critical in healthcare

03:41 - Unique challenges for healthcare phone systems

07:31 - Transitioning from legacy to cloud

11:25 - AI & efficiency in communications

16:25 - Data sovereignty & security

18:39 - Industry landscape & barriers to change

22:09 - Advice for healthcare providers

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Madhu Sasidhar, CEO and President of Apollo Hospitals, Luciano Bristia, Asia Pacific Business Lead at InterSystems, and Kym Chua, Executive Director of Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.

The discussion covers healthcare system challenges, digital transformation, AI adoption, workforce shortages, regional collaboration, and what it takes to drive innovation across Asia-Pacific health sectors.

The conversation explores how AI is easing pressure on clinicians, from assisting radiologists with scans to helping nurses pull up patient information faster.

It also touches on the urban and rural divide in access to care, Indonesia's push for a unified national health record, the importance of adapting solutions to local markets rather than adopting them outright, and how sustainability is shaping infrastructure decisions across the region.

This episode was recorded during Smart Health Asia in Singapore, an event that brought together over 3,000 participants from 18 countries.

It features interviews and observations captured during the event, highlighting perspectives from senior leaders, technology providers, and event organisers.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Access to healthcare and technology is a significant challenge in India and Southeast Asia, with urban-rural divides and workforce shortages affecting service delivery.

🤖 AI and digital technologies are being leveraged for efficiency gains, assisting with diagnostics (radiology, stroke, colonoscopy) and reducing clinician workload.

🌏 Regional health challenges and solutions differ greatly; mature markets like Australia and Japan contrast with fast-growing, young populations in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

💡 Collaboration across healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology vendors is seen as essential for scalable, effective innovation.

🔥 Initiatives like Indonesia's "Satu Sehat" (One Health) aim to create nationwide health records, especially targeting preventive care as a strategy for future public health management.

Timestamps

00:00 - Event Introduction: Smart Health Asia

00:48 - Madhu Sasidhar, CEO Apollo Hospitals

08:23 - Luciano Bristia, InterSystems, Asia Pacific

23:02 - Kym Chua, Event Organiser and Executive Director, Messe Berlin Asia Pacific

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jayden Rogers (CEO, Linear Clinical Research), Dr Stacie Calad-Thomson (Business Development Lead, Nvidia for Pharma Labs and Manufacturing), Arjun Bhat (Co-Founder, Clinrol), and Tran Le (General Manager, Hippocratic AI).

The conversations cover the changing landscape of clinical trials and drug discovery, the growing role of AI in patient recruitment and drug development, and innovations in technology and operational efficiency in life sciences.

The discussion covers why Australia has become an attractive destination for global clinical trials, from its regulatory environment and world-class clinicians through to the integrated networks that help international sponsors find the right partners.

It also looks at the practical realities of running a trial site, where regulatory approvals, staffing, patient engagement, and sensitive data all need to be managed at once, and how purpose-built platforms are taking on the repetitive work so research teams can focus on patient care.

This episode was recorded during the BIO International Convention in San Diego, featuring conversations with scientists, founders, investors, and healthcare decision-makers addressing challenges and opportunities across the biotech sector.

Key Takeaways

🧬 AI and automation are transforming clinical trial recruitment, streamlining patient matching, eligibility screening, and follow-up tasks

🚀 Australia’s reputation for clinical trials continues to grow, supported by a strong regulatory environment and quality healthcare ecosystem

💡 Open source tools and AI models are making computational drug discovery more accessible for non-specialists in science and medicine

🧑‍⚕️ Technology advancements allow clinicians and trial sites to focus more on patient care by reducing manual and repetitive efforts

🔗 Collaboration across pharma, biotechs, technology providers, and regulators is essential to tackle operational bottlenecks and accelerate drug development

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction

01:07 - Jayden Rogers, CEO, Linear Clinical Research

08:25 - Dr Stacie Calad-Thomson, Business Development, NVIDIA

17:55 - Arjun Bhat, Co-Founder, Clinrol

26:52 - Tran Le, General Manager of Life Sciences, Hippocratic AI

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Robyn Birch about their experiences using the Oura Ring 4, exploring how this wearable device fits into the broader clinical ecosystem.

The conversation focuses on the practicalities and implications of using wearables for health monitoring, such as bringing data into clinical consultations, comparing its ongoing data with clinical-grade tools, and considering the everyday healthcare impact for consumers and clinicians.

After six months of daily wear, Peter and Robyn share what the ring got right, where it fell short, and the moments the data prompted real action, including a GP visit that led to a formal sleep study.

They also discuss the scepticism patients can face when bringing consumer device data to their doctor, the role of trends and baselines over exact numbers, and what wearables are revealing about areas like sleep, recovery and women's health.

Key Takeaways

🟢 Wearables like the Oura Ring are increasingly used to support meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals

🟢 Data trends from wearables are more useful than one-off readings for both consumers and clinicians

🟢 Ongoing wearable monitoring complements, but does not replace, clinical grade diagnostic tools like sleep studies

🟢 Presenting continuous wearable health data can help drive further medical investigation when necessary

🟢 Wearable data is becoming more accepted by clinicians, helping patients become proactive participants in their health

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction & Oura Ring overview

02:27 - Wearables in clinical conversations

04:05 - Data trends vs. one-off readings

05:07 - Wearable data leading to clinical action

09:35 - Clinical sleep study vs. wearable metrics

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Monica Trujillo, Chief Health and Risk Officer, and Farhoud Salimi, Chief Technology Officer, both from Telstra Health.

The discussion covers the ongoing fragmentation of Australia's healthcare system, the challenge of integrating diverse legacy systems and the announcement of Telstra Health's new platform, Corus™, a unified care intelligence ecosystem built in partnership with Snowflake, Smile Digital Health and Salesforce.

Peter, Monica and Farhoud explore how modern cloud architecture, interoperability standards, cybersecurity and AI are being brought together to support seamless healthcare delivery, from the data spine that unifies patient records through to curated AI agents designed to ease clinical workflows.

They also unpack the shift in thinking from connected care to care connected, keeping the moment of care at the centre with the technology built around it.

The episode was recorded live at the Digital Health Festival 2026 in Melbourne, part of a series of episodes captured at the event, where more than 8,000 health leaders, clinicians and innovators gathered to explore what's next for the sector, and brings together perspectives from both technology and clinical leadership on what meaningful digital change in health really takes.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Healthcare in Australia is made up of multiple independent, legacy systems, rather than a single integrated system

🕸️ Integration challenges stem from varied data standards, terminology, and the need for high data reliability

🌐 The new Corus™ platform combines modern interoperability standards (FHIR), a robust data spine, and partnerships with technology providers like Snowflake, Smile Digital Health, and Salesforce

🔒 Cybersecurity and clinical governance are crucial in developing safe, secure, and trusted digital health solutions

👩‍⚕️ Corus™ aims to empower both patients and clinicians by enabling more efficient workflows, seamless data access, and self-management, supporting a shift toward preventative and proactive healthcare

Timestamps

00:00 — Episode introduction and guest intros

01:48 — Why healthcare remains fragmented

03:47 — Technology challenges integrating systems

04:15 — Modernisation and standards aligning

05:12 — Corus™ platform announcement

07:09 — What Corus™ enables and its architecture

10:00 — The "data spine" explained

11:06 — AI integration and customisation

13:17 — Managing cybersecurity and clinical governance

15:04 — What success looks like for Corus™

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech Peter Birch speaks with Dylan Coyne, co-founder at Updoc, about the origins and growth of the Updoc platform, the challenges and opportunities of providing accessible healthcare across Australia, and the balance between technology, trust, and scalability in digital health.

The conversation traces back to a personal injury that exposed the inefficiencies of the traditional healthcare system, sparking the idea for a platform built around convenience and access.

The episode explores how Updoc is addressing gaps in rural and regional healthcare access, fostering a supportive culture for both patients and clinicians, and participating in the development of national telehealth standards.

Recorded live at the Updoc booth during DHF26, The Digital Health Festival, the conversation highlights the ongoing innovations and real-world community engagement driving the company's mission.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Updoc aims to be a digital "front door" to healthcare, offering on-demand consultations without the need for traditional appointments or waiting rooms.

🌏 Rural and regional Australians represent nearly 40% of Updoc’s consultations, reflecting critical healthcare access barriers outside metropolitan areas.

🔒 Trust and data security are central to Updoc's operations, safeguarding both patient and doctor information while fostering confidence in telehealth solutions.

💡 Bootstrapping the company drove a focus on sustainability, leading to scalable offerings like unlimited telehealth subscriptions.

📜 Updoc played an active role in developing national telehealth standards, advocating for shared quality, credentialing, and feedback systems across the industry.

Timestamps

00:00 - Updoc's origin story

02:07 - Making healthcare accessible and convenient

04:22 - Impact and scale—reaching over a million Australians

05:24 - Building trust with patients and clinicians

08:20 - Serving rural and regional communities

09:09 - Community Access Programme and in-person outreach

12:01 - Attracting and supporting clinicians through flexibility

15:06 - National telehealth standards initiative

16:36 - Updoc's future and role in the healthcare ecosystem

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dalibor Frtunik, CEO of Sorsix, about how their platform Pinga® is building the backbone for the future of digital healthcare.

The conversation covers Sorsix's origins in North Macedonia, where the company cut its teeth integrating an entire national health system from the ground up, through to the concept of a health operating system and what that means in practice for clinicians, administrators, and patients alike.

Frtunik unpacks how AI-powered digital pathways are being deployed safely within clinical workflows, why the balance between customisation and standardisation matters more than ever, and how Sorsix approaches compliance and governance using frameworks like ISO 42001.

The episode also explores the growing role of data in preventative care, the limitations of old-style integration, and what the next decade of digital health transformation will demand from platforms and health systems alike.

Key Takeaways

💡 Sorsix’s platform Pinga® acts as a health operating system, integrating different healthcare workflows from individual clinics to entire countries

⚙️ Pinga® supports both clinical and administrative workflows, including triage, long-term care management, screening programs, and preventative pathways

🤖 AI is already in practical use within Pinga®, supporting operational efficiency and improved clinical outcomes, but safety and compliance remain priorities

🔒 ISO 42001 certification for AI is a critical part of building trust and governance in healthcare platforms

🌏 Sorsix’s experience shows that future health systems will need interoperable, flexible, AI-enabled technology that adapts to local workflows and supports ongoing digital transformation

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Sorsix and Pinga®

05:22 - Concept of a health operating system

07:04 - Solving healthcare interoperability and scheduling

13:02 - Balancing customisation with compliance

17:04 - Building clinical and administrative digital pathways

31:36 - Certification, ISO 42001, and AI safety

37:11 - Looking to the future of interoperable, patient-centred systems

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch sits down with Cameron McBride, Divisional Director of Digital Technology Services at Western Health, Chris Fisher, Head of Solution Engineering for Asia Pacific and Japan at Island, and Jeroen Nguyen, Solutions Architect from Endpoint Focus to explore what it really takes to modernise digital workspaces in healthcare.

The conversation moves through the everyday challenges of implementing secure and efficient technology in hospitals, the flow-on impact on clinician workflows, the cybersecurity considerations that come with managing sensitive patient data, and the complexities of compliance in a global context.

The discussion also looks ahead to the future of AI integration at the point of care and what it will take for emerging technologies to earn the trust of clinicians and patients alike.

Recorded live at DHF26, the Digital Health Festival held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, this episode features a multi-guest panel discussion captured in front of a live audience at one of Australia's premier health innovation gatherings.

Drawing on real-world examples from Western Health and technology partners active in the Australian healthcare sector, the panel offers a grounded look at how digital transformation is unfolding on the ground, not just in theory.

Key Takeaways

🖥️ Legacy applications and insecure browsers create significant risks and challenges, addressing them simplifies IT service delivery and enhances security

🔒 Moving security controls into the browser provides more effective protection and flexibility compared to traditional network-based layers

⚡ Improving clinician access to critical systems, such as electronic medical records, directly impacts patient care by reducing wait times

📊 Enhanced analytics and visibility tools enable IT teams to better monitor user behaviour and application performance

🤖 Integrating AI-driven workflows and secure technology environments is paving the way for future innovations in healthcare delivery

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and guest backgrounds

03:04 - Challenges with legacy apps

04:08 - Island's place in security landscape

07:02 - Security at the browser level

09:01 - Clinician workflow improvements

11:36 - IT analytics and reporting benefits

12:57 - Implementing technology changes in healthcare

17:27 - Future plans and AI integration

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Bettina McMahon, CEO of Healthdirect, clinical governance and digital health safety expert Chris Boyd Skinner, and Leon Young, founder of Cogniss and Ripple Scale, about the ongoing challenges and potential solutions in scaling the adoption of digital health tools beyond pilots and siloed deployments.

The conversation explores why so many effective tools in women's health, mental health, children's health, and long-term care struggle to reach the people who need them most.

The group discusses portfolio-based adoption models, the limitations of one-app-at-a-time procurement, and the growing case for a digital health publisher model that can validate, distribute, and maintain tools at scale.

The episode also covers clinical trust and regulatory frameworks, the risks of shadow IT, the barriers facing direct-to-consumer digital health, and how innovations such as Ripple Scale are working to address the gaps in app distribution and uptake.

Together, the guests make a compelling case for why collaboration, shared infrastructure, and smarter funding models are the next step forward for digital health.

Key Takeaways

🌐 Many digital health tools struggle to scale beyond pilots due to barriers in adoption by health providers.

🤝 Clinicians and researchers are often required to become startup founders to drive adoption, even if their expertise is in care, not business.

🏥 Health systems face challenges in assessing, procuring, and managing hundreds of separate digital health apps.

🔒 Clinical safety, regulation, and building trust are essential for the widespread uptake of digital health technology.

🚀 Portfolio-based models and digital publishers like Ripple Scale offer alternatives to fragmented app distribution, making it easier for providers to offer trusted digital solutions across key health areas.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introductions & background

03:21 - Cogniss mission and innovation

04:52 - The need for a digital health publisher

05:28 - Barriers to adoption: system and innovator challenges

12:37 - The perspective of Health Direct and large organisations

17:57 - Consumer vs. provider-facing digital products

19:00 - Clinical safety, trust, and governance

26:30 - "Shadow IT" and its impact

33:52 - Advice for digital health tool creators

36:15 - Next steps for Ripple Scale

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

THT+ Company Partnership

Learn more about THT+ Company Partnership options for start-ups, scale-ups and enterprise digital health companies looking for visibility, content, community access and industry connection: talkinghealthtech.com/partners.

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

Find out how Medcast is building trustworthy medical-grade AI in this episode of Talking HealthTech, recorded live at the Digital Health Festival 2026 in Melbourne, Australia's premier gathering for health innovation, technology, and policy.

Peter Birch sits down with Dr Stephen Barnett, CEO of Medcast, to explore what it genuinely takes to make AI safe, reliable, and fit for purpose in a clinical setting.

With a background spanning general practice, research, and digital health innovation, Barnett brings a grounded and practical perspective to one of the most talked-about topics in healthcare right now.

Together, they unpack the concept of knowledge translation, the persistent gap between cutting-edge AI and trustworthy clinical tools, and why large language models alone are not enough.

The conversation covers retrieval-augmented generation, the risks of AI hallucinations, the importance of curated and validated data sources, and the orchestration layer that sits between a powerful model and a safe medical answer.

They also discuss how clinical workflows are changing, the shift in how doctors use digital tools in front of patients, and the emerging conversation around patient-facing AI.

Key Takeaways

🧑‍⚕️ Knowledge translation in healthcare relies on getting the right information to the right person at the right time, impacting both clinician learning and patient outcomes.

🤖 Large language models require an orchestration layer and data curation processes to be considered "medical grade" and trustworthy for clinical use.

🔎 Retrieval-augmented generation and other governance measures help address hallucinations and bias in AI-powered healthcare solutions, supporting quality, safety, and auditability.

💡 Medluma, Medcast's AI platform, addresses compliance, standardisation, and onboarding within healthcare organisations, while empowering clinicians with trusted knowledge access.

📱 Patient-clinician trust depends on using validated, professional tools for information sourcing, and future AI integrations may also support patient self-service within set guardrails.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and guest overview

00:44 - Medcast origins and purpose

02:54 - Obsession with AI and knowledge translation

03:49 - Medical safety in language models

06:13 - Techniques for trustworthy AI

10:01 - Adapting to rapid AI changes

13:32 - Knowledge translation across clinical and non-clinical roles

14:49 - Patient trust and professional boundaries

18:22 - Medcast and Medluma future roadmap

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Suma Shivalingaiah, Chief Information Officer at Eastern Health, about the practical use, governance, and impact of AI and digital technologies in a large Victorian public health service.

The conversation covers the AI journey at Eastern Health, from addressing a significant cyber incident that reshaped the organisation's digital strategy to building internal capability, upskilling staff, and deploying AI across both administrative and clinical workflows.

Suma shares how Eastern Health approaches AI governance through a dedicated committee that assesses and manages risk across all tools and platforms, why cybersecurity remains the organisation's top priority, and how clinician buy-in is central to any successful implementation.

The discussion also touches on real-world pilots including GP referral triage systems, help desk and policy management agents, and Emergency Department wait time predictions, as well as the role of university partnerships in accelerating AI adoption.

This episode was recorded live at the Microsoft stand during the Digital Health Festival 2026, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in May 2026, as part of a series of conversations captured across the event.

Key Takeaways

🛡️ Governance and cybersecurity are foundational for AI deployment in healthcare, and a dedicated committee is needed to ensure safe use of digital tools

⚙️ Real-world AI success starts with addressing repetitive and administrative tasks for staff and clinicians, using agents like help desk and policy management tools

👨‍⚕️ Clinician and staff buy-in is critical. Adoption depends on early engagement and solving actual pain points

📊 AI in clinical workflow includes initiatives like triaging GP referrals and predicting ED wait times, always as a support tool, not a replacement for clinicians

🎓 Building AI literacy, continuous training, and partnerships with universities are essential for capability uplift and safe technology integration

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction & Episode Setting

00:28 - Overview of Eastern Health

01:35 - Practical AI applications

02:51 - AI agents & support tools

03:57 - Importance of clinical buy-in

05:33 - Governance & cybersecurity foundations

06:30 - AI use case—triaging referrals

08:31 - Justifying AI adoption in public health

10:02 - Automating clinical notes & admin

11:16 - Multi-pronged strategy & advice

12:02 - Lessons for healthcare leaders

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jacqueline Leeds, CEO of Rauland Australia and New Zealand, Vickie Knight, General Manager for Clinical Services at Rauland Australia and New Zealand, and a panel including Robin Mann, Chief Digital Information Officer at Monash Health, Richard Taggart, CEO of eHealth NSW, Jayne Barclay, National Director of Healthcare Platform at St Vincent's, and Emily Mailes, Executive Vice President at Optimum Healthcare IT.

Recorded live during the Healthcare Leaders Breakfast with Rauland Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne, the conversation brings together some of Australia's most experienced digital health leaders for an honest discussion about what it actually takes to deliver technology that works in a real clinical environment.

The panel covers the realities of implementing healthcare technology from strategy through to execution, including the importance of co-designing with clinical teams, navigating legacy infrastructure, managing stakeholder engagement, and dealing with the resource constraints that shape what is achievable.

The conversation also explores how organisations can build a compelling business case, ensure measurable benefits are realised, and scale innovation without losing sight of patient care.

Key Takeaways

🧩 Enterprise thinking is essential for managing complex healthcare tech environments, particularly integrating new solutions into legacy systems

👩‍⚕️ Clinical workflow mapping, including workarounds, is crucial for successful technology deployment and co-design with clinicians

💸 Investment in digital innovation must balance legacy system costs and future benefits, requiring creative funding solutions and engagement with financial leaders

📞 Standardising processes, such as critical consumer escalation pathways, improves safety and user experience

🔍 Focus on defining and measuring the actual problem solved by technology, ensuring real value and operational impact for healthcare staff and patients

Timestamps

00:00 - Event introduction and context

03:10 - Jacqueline Leeds on Rauland's platform approach

09:59 - Vickie Knight on execution challenges in healthcare

17:31 - Panelist intros and real-world project examples

28:54 - Innovation, investment, and budget barriers

41:43 - Final advice for healthcare leaders

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch sits down with Martin Moszczynski, CEO of Olinqua, to explore the evolution of hospital communications technology in Australia.

They dig into the real-world challenges of moving away from pagers to smartphones, the infrastructure decisions that come with that shift, and what it takes to modernise communications across an entire hospital workforce.

Martin shares insights from Olinqua's large-scale projects in Victoria, discussing the practicalities of tech adoption, the importance of system integration, and why the focus needs to be on frontline staff rather than patient-facing solutions.

The conversation also touches on the tension between legacy systems and modern platforms, the role of AI in software development, and how real-time location technology is opening up new possibilities for workflow improvement and patient transfer logistics.

This episode was recorded live during the Digital Health Festival 2026 in Melbourne, Australia and shares a deep-dive conversation captured at the event.

Key Takeaways

📱 Hospitals are transitioning from aging pagers to smartphones for greater capability, integration, and reliability

🔄 Tech upgrades are often driven by infrastructure maturity and end-of-life legacy systems, not just a desire for new tech

✨ Modern solutions centralise multiple workflows: emergency alerts, task management, and mobile duress onto a single platform

👩‍⚕️ The main focus is improving staff experience, convenience, and freeing up time for direct patient care

📍 Real-time location technology is a major area of investment, enabling efficient asset and patient tracking for workflow innovation

Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction and setting

00:29 — Olinqua’s current projects

01:17 — Pagers vs smartphones in hospitals

03:13 — Reasons for upgrading communications tech

05:55 — Recent deployment examples

08:51 — Staff centricity vs patient centricity

12:34 — Impact of AI and easy-to-create software

15:55 — Olinqua’s priorities: location tech and innovation

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, recorded live at the Digital Health Festival 2026 (DHF26), Peter Birch speaks with Kai Van Lieshout, CEO and founder of Lyrebird Health, and Dr Ray Boyapati, Chief Clinical Officer at Lyrebird Health and a practising gastroenterologist at Monash Health.

The discussion explores the evolution of Lyrebird Health's AI-driven tools for clinicians, the importance of clinical involvement in product design, and the rapid adoption of AI across Australian general practice.

Kai and Ray also unpack what's driving this shift in attitude among clinicians, many of whom were previously wary of new digital health tools, and why this generation of AI is proving different.

The conversation covers approaches to maintaining safety and clinical rigour while meeting increasing demand from clinicians.

It also looks ahead to where clinical AI may be heading next, from ambient documentation to decision support, and what that means for the future of patient care, clinical workflows, and the relationship between doctors and patients.

Key Takeaways

🤖 Lyrebird Health’s AI tools have been made freely available to most Australian GPs, significantly increasing adoption among clinicians.

🩺 Embedding practising clinicians like Dr Ray Boyapati within the Lyrebird team ensures clinical rigour and relevance in product development.

🏥 Clinicians are more willing to adopt technology that demonstrably improves their workflow, as seen with AI-powered medical scribe tools.

🚦 Rapid AI adoption in healthcare brings risks, making deliberate, safety-focused implementation essential.

🌏 The timing of AI integration in healthcare is critical, shaping future clinical practice and patient care.

Timestamps

00:00 - Episode and guests' introduction

00:40 - Lyrebird Health’s mission and product updates

01:39 - Team growth and bringing on Dr Ray Boyapati

03:12 - Dr Ray Boyapati’s background and experiences

04:38 - Chief Clinical Officer responsibilities

07:08 - Clinician technology adoption and impact

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch joins Dr Seref Arikan, Technical Lead at Ocean Health Systems, for a conversation that spans continents, with Peter joining from Australia and Dr Arikan speaking from London, to explore one of the most ambitious digital health initiatives the world has seen.

Together, they unpack what it really means to unify health data across 26 nations and half a billion patients, and why the European Health Data Space is about far more than just technology.

Dr Arikan walks through the landscape of health data standards, from HL7 FHIR to openEHR, and explains why having no shortage of standards does not automatically translate to interoperability at scale.

The conversation also explores the EHDS's ambition to put patients firmly in control of their own health data and what that looks like in practice across dozens of different legislative and cultural environments.

There is also a thoughtful discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in digital health, why this generation of AI is better understood as a skill than a tool, and what it means to be an AI-native clinician in a world where large language models can be as misleading as they are useful.

The discussion also looks at Australia's SPARKED initiative and the lessons it offers for Europe, how feedback loops can prevent costly mistakes in large-scale health IT projects, and why stakeholder collaboration remains the hardest and most important part of getting any of this right.

Key Takeaways

🗂️ EHDS is a major European Union initiative aimed at creating a unified framework for health data use and exchange across member states.

🌍 The project’s biggest challenge is coordinating communication and collaboration between a vast range of diverse stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, health systems, payers, and regulators.

🔗 Standards such as HL7 FHIR, OpenEHR, SNOMED CT, and others play a central role, but aligning on which to use across the EU remains a complex, ongoing process.

🤝 Fast and efficient stakeholder feedback loops, as demonstrated by the OpenEHR Clinical Knowledge Manager and Australia's SPARKED project, are critical to prevent costly missteps in developing compliant solutions.

🤖 Artificial intelligence is viewed as a skill to amplify human capability rather than a replacement for stakeholders; good data is essential for effective AI use in healthcare.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introductions & speaker roles

00:30 - Dr Seref Arikan career journey

02:54 - What is the European Health Data Space?

04:40 - EHDS and health data standards

07:27 - EHDS objectives & patient focus

10:44 - Challenges of implementation

15:12 - The role of feedback & communication

19:21: AI’s role in health data projects

26:22: Reflections on Australia’s SPARKED project

32:46: Ocean Health Systems updates

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, guest host Dr Max Mollenkopf sits down with Graham Denyer, GP and Medical Director at Tend, a hybrid digital and physical primary care provider operating across New Zealand.

Together they unpack what it really takes to redesign general practice from the ground up, and why getting it right matters more than ever.

Graham walks through how New Zealand's capitated funding model shapes the day-to-day reality of general practice, and why the blended model of government subsidy and out-of-pocket costs creates both opportunities and real tensions for patients and providers alike.

The discussion also touches into how Tend has built a fully integrated care model that brings together digital technology, telehealth, and physical clinics in a way that feels seamless for patients and clinicians.

There is also a candid look at the role of data and AI in lifting the quality of clinical records, how open notes are changing the relationship between patients and their care teams, and why benchmarking clinician performance across a large network is uncomfortable but necessary.

The episode also digs into Tend's approach to equity, particularly the work being done to improve access and outcomes for Māori and Pacific communities, and why well-designed digital tools can close gaps rather than widen them.

Since the recording of this episode, Tend has announced it is entering into an agreement to purchase Green Cross 'The Doctors' (pending shareholder approval). This network of 65 clinics across New Zealand will roughly triple Tend's footprint, and will see Māori iwi becoming one of the largest shareholders.

More information can be read in Tend's press release here.

Key Takeaways

🧑‍⚕️ Capitated Funding Model in NZ

The New Zealand primary care funding model is based on capitation, with a blend of government funding and patient co-pays, driving unique incentives and challenges.

🌐 Integrated Digital & Physical Care

Tend combines digital platforms and bricks-and-mortar clinics, allowing for unified health records and seamless patient journeys across online and in-person services.

📈 Data, AI, and Open Notes

Tend leverages AI for scribing and standardising clinical records, open notes for patient transparency, and centralised data to drive quality and continuity across care teams.

🌏 Equity and Access Initiatives

Specific strategies are in place to improve primary care access for Māori and Pacifica communities, with representation at the board level and targeted service design.

👩‍🔬 Multidisciplinary, Team-Based Care

Tend’s model supports distributed care teams, drawing on nurses, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists, positioning the GP as a team leader rather than sole provider.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction

02:03 - New Zealand’s capitation model

07:11 - Hybrid physical and digital clinics

12:55 - Unified technology/app experience

13:59 - Right channel, right care approach

21:15 - Telehealth workforce and flexibility

25:46 - Pricing, co-pays, and structure

28:54 - Data quality and AI scribe

44:12 - Clinical benchmarking and open data

54:59 - Māori and Pacifica health equity

01:03:21 - GP productivity and team-based care

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Dr Max Mollenkopf sits down with Steven Lu, co-founder and medical director at EverLab.

The conversation explores the evolution of primary care through EverLab's preventative and personalised health model.

Topics include data consolidation, patient empowerment, healthcare branding, and the role of technology in general practice, as well as the nuances around preventative testing such as whole-body MRI.

Steven and Max dig into the real challenges of building a healthcare model that puts prevention first, from navigating the complexities of Medicare funding and GP identity to scaling clinical excellence across a growing network of clinicians.

They also get candid about the longevity medicine hype, what good medicine actually looks like in this space, and why behaviour change is just as important as clinical advice.

Key Takeaways

✨ The role of data consolidation: Everlab collects patients’ health records, empowering both clinicians and patients with consolidated, accessible data to support personalised preventative care.

🔄 Primary care branding and evolution: The decision to avoid “general practice” branding is discussed, highlighting how patient perceptions and government funding models shape engagement and commercial viability.

🤝 Patient engagement and experience: High-quality, engaging customer experience is positioned as essential for behaviour change, increased trust, and long-term continuity of care.

💻 Technology as a driver: Technology, from patient interfaces to clinical audit tools, streamlines high-quality care and creates scalable models beyond traditional GP practices.

🧪 Preventative testing and consent: Discussion of commercially popular preventative tools like whole-body MRI, with a focus on appropriate use, informed consent, and aligning clinical outcomes with business models.

Timestamps

00:00 - Meet Everlab: mission & approach

04:41 - Consolidating health data for care

06:09 - Target audience and shifting focus

08:38 - Rethinking general practice branding

13:09 - Longevity & preventative care models

17:20 - Defining functional & integrated medicine

21:51 - Preventative care—systemic challenges

27:50 - Consumer experience in healthcare

35:18 - Quality, speed, cost trade-offs

40:05 - Scaling and standardising clinical care

57:34 - Preventative tests: whole body MRI

01:09:04 - Aligning commercial and clinical outcomes

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Brendan Tang and Peter Rady from Medicity.

Together, they discuss EVE, a digital health platform improving maternity care, supporting parents, and optimising outcomes in the crucial first 2,000 days of life.

The discussion covers the strategic framework behind early childhood health, the ways technology can enhance communication between hospitals and clinicians, and how feedback from both clinicians and families drives EVE's development.

They also explore the real-world impact of the platform, including how one Melbourne hospital reduced maternal hypertension and hyperemesis admissions by 50%, the economic case for early intervention, and why getting the first 2,000 days right has consequences that reach well beyond the maternity ward.

The conversation also touches on the importance of building support networks that extend beyond the mother, and the challenge of scaling digital solutions equitably across communities.

Looking further ahead, Brendan and Peter R share their vision for what prevention-focused perinatal care could look like at a state and national level.

Key Takeaways

🍼 Focusing on the first 2,000 days, from conception to age five, can transform a person’s lifelong health and reduce social and economic burdens.

📱 EVE delivers hospital-curated information, communication tools, and community support directly to parents via a mobile app, improving engagement and health outcomes.

🏥 Maternity hospitals using EVE have seen up to a 50% reduction in maternal health admissions from early intervention based on remote monitoring and direct messaging.

🤝 EVE adapts and evolves based on ongoing feedback from parents, clinicians, and healthcare systems to address real-world needs.

🌏 The next steps for EVE involve expanding beyond individual hospitals to state and country-wide implementations to maximise impact.

Timestamps

01:03 - Medicity’s evolution and focus

02:21 - The “First 2,000 Days” strategy

03:44 - Tools to improve early years

06:07 - Brain development importance

12:19 - Hospital outcomes with EVE

16:46 - Community and loneliness support

19:38 - Appointment and immunisation tools

22:33 - Building based on feedback

28:03 - Scaling EVE state and nationwide

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch sits down with Dan Burke, Managing Director at Magentus, and Ben Richardson, CEO at Labflow, for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of pathology in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

With half a billion pathology tests processed in Australia every year and a workforce of only 2,500 pathologists, the sector is under significant pressure.

Dan and Ben unpack what that means for labs trying to modernise without disrupting the critical services that clinicians and patients depend on every day.

The discussion covers the growing role of artificial intelligence in diagnostic settings, exploring where AI is already delivering practical value and where human oversight remains non-negotiable.

The episode also digs into the challenge of legacy technology, making the case for incremental, modular modernisation over risky large-scale overhauls that can put operations at risk.

Beyond the technology, the conversation explores how consumer expectations are reshaping pathology, from the direct-to-consumer testing boom across Asia-Pacific markets to the rise of genomics and personalised medicine.

Key Takeaways

🔬 The pathology sector in Australia faces a significant workforce shortage and increasing test complexity, putting pressure on digital transformation in labs

🧩 Incremental modernisation and interoperability are addressed as more practical than full system replacements for pathology lab infrastructure

🧑‍⚕️ AI in diagnostics is positioned as a support tool for clinicians and administrative workflows, rather than replacing human experts

🌏 Consumer-driven demand, particularly in APAC markets like India and Malaysia, is accelerating digital adoption and expectations for health data access

🧬 The falling cost of genomics and genetics is setting the stage for personalised preventive healthcare and more targeted diagnostics

Timestamps

00:00 - Introductions & episode overview

00:54 - What is Magentus?

01:55 - The origin of Lab Flow

03:48 - The pathology landscape in 2026

08:42 - Fragmentation & technology challenges

13:58 - Incremental modernisation explained

17:38 - Interoperability & complexity in labs

19:05 - Role of AI in laboratory services

25:57 - Social perspectives on AI in healthcare

29:25 - Genomics, personalisation, and the future

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Paula Stephenson (Executive Director of Clinical Excellence, Mercy Health), Bianca Todd (Improvement Innovation Advisor, Western District Health Service), The Hon. Victor Dominello (CEO, Future Government Institute), and Dan Michelson (CEO, RLDatix).

The conversation explores the evolving landscape of healthcare compliance, workforce management, and digital transformation across the health sector.

It also examines the practical impact of AI and emerging technologies on healthcare delivery, organisational change, and patient care.

The discussion highlights the growing importance of accessible and meaningful data in improving quality, safety, and patient outcomes, alongside the challenges organisations face when modernising legacy systems and fragmented workflows.

Speakers reflect on the role of interoperability, digital maturity, and leadership in shaping more connected healthcare environments, while also examining how AI is influencing decision making, workforce planning, and service delivery.

The episode also delves into the cultural side of technology implementation, including change fatigue, clinician engagement, and the importance of building values-driven teams that can support long-term transformation.

This episode was recorded at the RLDatix Connected Health and Care Summit for Asia Pacific in 2026, capturing discussions from healthcare leaders and technology innovators during the event.

Key Takeaways

💡 Patient-centred care is the focus of digital and AI innovation in healthcare.

💡 Transitioning from paper to digital systems brings both challenges and opportunities for compliance, efficiency, and workforce management.

💡 Change management and team engagement are crucial for successful technology adoption in clinical environments.

💡 Breaking down data silos is essential for harnessing the full value of AI in healthcare.

💡 Organisational values and a customer-obsessed approach drive better outcomes in healthcare technology projects.

Timestamps

00:00 – Peter Birch: Episode and event introduction

00:42 – Paula Stephenson, Executive Director, Clinical Excellence, Mercy Health

07:57 – Bianca Todd, Improvement Innovation Advisor, Western District Health Service

16:08 – The Hon. Victor Dominello, CEO, Future Government Institute

21:29 – Dan Michelson, CEO, RLDatix

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Melvin Chen, CEO and founder of Care GP, about the evolving role of automation and artificial intelligence in primary care administration.

The conversation digs into the very real administrative pressures facing Australian GP clinics today and how Care GP is working to address them in practical, measurable ways.

Melvin walks through the development and growing uptake of Care GP's products, Samantha and Veronica, sharing firsthand insights into how these tools are being received by practices on the ground.

Their discussion also explores broader themes around workforce efficiency, technology adoption, and what it truly means to build technology that fits the way clinics actually work.

The episode further explains why AI-driven admin solutions are becoming an essential part of the future of general practice in Australia.

Key Takeaways

💡 Administrative costs are a significant burden in healthcare, making up to a third of overall spending; automating these processes leads to major efficiency gains.

💡 Care GP’s solutions, particularly Samantha for document processing and Veronica for voice automation, are being rapidly adopted, with customer demand driving product focus.

💡 Clinics have realised direct workforce cost savings—up to $55,000 per year at mid-sized sites—by automating document management tasks.

💡 The conversation highlights that technology is not about replacing staff, but about redeploying people to higher-value tasks and enabling practice growth.

💡 Customisation for medical workflows and continuous user feedback are essential for the successful implementation of AI-based admin tools in healthcare.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction & Care GP recap

02:11 - Admin burden in primary care

05:06 - Launch and adoption of Samantha

14:05 - IT budget vs workforce savings

22:41 - Veronica voice agent demonstration

31:07 - What's next for Care GP

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Catherine Skellern, Dr Nancy Cibotti and Dean Mills about the adoption and impact of Heidi Health technology in clinical and community health settings.

The conversations cover clinician-driven implementation, reducing administrative burden, and transforming the way healthcare professionals engage with patients and families.

The discussion explores how AI documentation tools are reshaping daily clinical workflows, relieving the cognitive load that has long contributed to burnout and attrition across the sector.

From the experiences of a consultant paediatrician to insights from a US-based Chief Medical Information Officer and a community services technology leader, the episode draws on a breadth of perspectives to examine what responsible, effective AI adoption looks like in practice.

This episode was recorded at Heidi Unlocked in Melbourne, Australia and features a selection of conversations Talking HealthTech captured during the event with healthcare professionals, clinicians and technology leaders.

Key Takeaways

🔹 Clinician-led adoption of technology is critical for effective implementation in healthcare settings.

🔹 AI scribes like Heidi can reduce documentation burden and cognitive load for clinicians and social workers.

🔹 Technology enables healthcare providers to focus more on patient interaction and less on paperwork.

🔹 Addressing privacy and risk assessment is essential when implementing AI in healthcare.

🔹 Grassroots demand from users can accelerate the adoption and scaling of new digital tools.

Timestamps

00:00 - Peter Birch: Introduction

00:36 - Dr Catherine Skellern, Child Development Network

06:30 - Dr Nancy Cibotti, Heidi Health

10:27 - Dean Mills, Anglicare Victoria

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Simon Taylor Cross, Chief Commercial Officer, and Dr Daniel Stiglitz, Director & Co-Founder at Atidia Health.

Together, they explore the realities of perioperative care today, including the challenges created by variability in pre-surgery patient management and what that means for both patient safety and system performance.

The conversation looks closely at how Atidia Health’s Patient Optimiser Platform (POP) uses clinical decision support and AI to identify risk earlier, support more consistent care, and help clinicians make better-informed decisions without disrupting existing workflows.

It also unpacks what it actually takes to implement technology in real hospital settings, from change management and clinician engagement to aligning stakeholders across complex health systems.

Along the way, the episode highlights a broader question facing healthcare today: how can we reduce preventable harm while systems grow more complex and clinicians face increasing pressure?

This discussion offers practical insights into the intersection of clinical practice, digital health, and real-world implementation, highlighting how smarter, evidence-based approaches can support safer and more reliable patient outcomes.

Key Takeaways

🔍 Variability in preoperative care leads to inconsistent patient outcomes, with a significant proportion of complications being preventable

🤝 Embedding clinical expertise with technology and commercial strategy is essential for building effective solutions like POP

⚙️ POP is designed to work within existing healthcare workflows, ensuring support rather than disruption for clinicians and staff

💡 Early identification and intervention using data-driven decision support can prevent adverse events and system inefficiencies

🚀 Effective change management, cross-disciplinary partnerships, and clear return on investment are critical for successful technology adoption in health settings

Timestamps

00:01: Introductions & Atidia Health overview

03:23: Preventable complications in perioperative care

09:57: Example: Patient risk identification with POP

12:29: Integrating technology with clinical workflows

16:35: Role and limits of AI in healthcare

25:43: Large-scale implementation & change management

32:28: Lessons in partnership for healthcare leaders

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Shelley Thomson, Co-Founder and Director of the Patient Experience Agency and host of the Consumer Health Partnerships podcast.

They explore what genuine consumer engagement looks like in healthcare and digital health, why it is often missing, and how organisations can move beyond basic feedback towards meaningful, ongoing partnerships with patients and consumers.

The conversation unpacks the gap between how healthcare is designed and how it is actually experienced, highlighting how patients move across multiple services and touchpoints while systems often remain siloed.

Peter and Shelley discuss why many digital health solutions still miss the mark by focusing on workflows and technology rather than lived experience, and why honest, open feedback is both essential and difficult to capture in practice.

They also examine the difference between consultative feedback and true collaboration, and why engagement must be continuous rather than treated as a one-off activity.

This episode offers a grounded look at how healthcare organisations can build consumer engagement as a core capability, creating more connected, effective care that better reflects what matters most to the people it serves.

Key Takeaways

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Consumer engagement is about genuine partnership, not just surveys or one-off feedback.

🧭 Building organisational capability is needed—consumer engagement is an ongoing practice, not an add-on.

🌏 Digital health solutions often focus on workflows or tech and miss the lived experience of patients.

🔑 Honest feedback requires safe environments for open conversations with all stakeholders.

🗺️ Patient journey mapping helps identify real issues that sit between services, not just within them.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction

01:12 - Shelley Thomson’s background & role

02:21 - Defining consumer engagement

04:02 - Why it’s often missing

06:16 - Measuring what “good” engagement is

09:30 - Recruiting the right people

13:12 - Common challenges in engagement

18:05 - How to start: practical strategies

19:59 - Real-world example: dementia journey

22:35 - About Consumer Health Partnerships podcast

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jakomi Mathews, founder and CEO of Goto.health, about the role of technology in improving price transparency, payment workflows, and access to healthcare services for both patients and clinics across Australia

The conversation explores how gaps in pricing visibility and payment processes continue to shape patient behaviour and clinic operations, and why these challenges persist despite broader conversations around health system reform.

The discussion delves into the origin story behind Goto.health and the real-world experiences that highlighted the need for a more transparent and predictable approach to healthcare payments.

It also examines the growing impact of affordability pressures on patients, including delayed care and the risk of bill shock, as well as the operational inefficiencies faced by clinics in managing cancellations, no-shows, and inconsistent cash flow.

Beyond these challenges, the episode looks at how digital payment models inspired by other industries can streamline booking and payment processes across different care settings.

It also considers broader implications for the healthcare ecosystem, drawing on insights from both Australian and international approaches, and highlights emerging innovations that aim to create a more connected, efficient, and patient-centred healthcare experience.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Price transparency and accessibility remain major barriers to healthcare; nearly 50% of Australians delay or cancel care due to affordability

💳 Goto.health uses a model similar to Uber for healthcare payments, guaranteeing clinic payments and reducing cancellations or no-shows

📈 The current healthcare SaaS booking incumbents are still only capturing a small fraction of medical appointments in Australia

🦷 The Australian healthcare landscape has significant cost variance, especially in dental care, driving some patients to seek treatment overseas

🌏 Regulatory trends are pushing for mandated price transparency, both in Australia and in the US, influencing Goto.health’s roadmap

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & background

00:47 – Goto.health origin story

02:05 – Clinic workflow challenges

03:18 – Price transparency impact

07:41 – Out-of-pocket healthcare costs

12:02 – Benefits for clinics and patients

15:13 – Goto.health’s product in action

18:07 – Scaling the model & group implementations

21:08 – Payment integrations and industry challenges

23:29 – Roadmap and international expansion

25:45 – Market context and platform growth

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Tim Ferris, Vice President of Healthcare Practice for Intersystems, Dr Tom Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Heidi Health, and Hal Wolf, President and CEO of HIMSS, about the evolving role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in addressing challenges in healthcare delivery, data integration, and system efficiency.

The conversation explores how real-world pressures such as workforce strain, rising demand, and fragmented systems are shaping the way technology is adopted across healthcare.

It looks closely at what makes digital tools succeed in practice, from easing clinical workflows to improving access to meaningful data, and why many past solutions have struggled to deliver on their promise.

The episode also dives into the growing impact of AI in clinical settings, including its role in reducing administrative burden and supporting better decision-making.

Alongside this, it examines the importance of trust, patient expectations, and the need for systems that are not only innovative but practical, reliable, and built to support care where it matters most.

This episode was recorded during HIMSS 2026 in Las Vegas and features conversations Talking HealthTech had on the expo floor with industry leaders and innovators.

Key Takeaways

🧑‍⚕️ Technology’s evolving role: AI and large language models are poised to transform healthcare delivery by addressing supply and demand imbalances and supporting frontline clinicians.

🔑 Practical implementation challenges: Real-world adoption depends on solving specific clinical problems, ensuring seamless data aggregation, and focusing on user-friendly tools.

💸 Funding and adoption incentives: Different healthcare systems (such as the NHS vs the US) adapt AI and technology for cost, efficiency, and clinician satisfaction, affecting the pace and nature of adoption.

🤝 Data, trust, and usage: The growth of agents and AI in healthcare introduces new complexities around data ownership, patient trust, and security, requiring new ways to manage access and responsible use.

🌏 Innovation across the industry: Global perspectives sync on the value of integrating AI into workflows, from documentation to communication, showing both opportunities and hesitations among clinicians and patients.

Timestamps

00:00 - Peter Birch: Episode intro

02:56 - Tim Ferris, Vice President of Healthcare Practice, Intersystems

15:17 - Dr Tom Kelly, CEO & Co-Founder, Heidi Health

23:36 - Hal Wolf, President & CEO, HIMSS

39:42 - Peter Birch: Episode wrap-up

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Rowland Illing, Chief Medical Officer for Amazon Web Services, about how cloud technology is reshaping healthcare and what that means for the people working within it.

They explore the rapid rise of AI and software agents, and how these tools are beginning to change the daily experience for clinicians, patients, and health system operators.

They unpack AWS’s dual role as both a global cloud provider and an increasingly active contributor to healthcare solutions, sharing practical examples from health systems and life sciences organisations around the world.

The discussion also looks at how infrastructure decisions made today are enabling new models of care, from streamlining administrative workflows to improving how patients access and navigate services.

The conversation offers a grounded look at where healthcare is heading, what is already changing behind the scenes, and how technology can support better, more human-centred care when applied with purpose.

This episode was recorded during the HIMSS26 conference and captures the latest conversations and innovations at the intersection of healthcare and cloud computing.

Key Takeaways

🧬 AWS underpins global healthcare and life sciences, supporting drug discovery, health systems, and tech vendors worldwide

💻 AI and cloud services enable faster, more scalable solutions in drug discovery, imaging, and genomics

🔗 Modular, standards-based services like AWS HealthLake and HealthOmics foster interoperability and innovation for vendors and clinicians

🤖 The emergence of AI agents is automating admin tasks, streamlining scheduling, patient interactions, and clinical workflows

🙋 Patient education and transparency around AI use remain essential to build trust and improve care delivery

Timestamps

00:00 – Episode intro & guest overview

01:16 – AWS’s healthcare ecosystem role

05:21 – AI in drug discovery and life sciences

07:27 – Modular services: HealthLake, Imaging, HealthOmics

12:22 – AI agents in patient engagement & admin

18:10 – Human element: clinicians and patient care

21:01 – AI, uncertainty, and patient education

27:16 – Advice for CIOs, CTOs, and next steps

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, recorded live at HIMSS26, Peter Birch sits down with Troy Kennedy, AVP of Client Partner Technology at Solventum, to explore the evolving role of clinical coding and the growing impact of AI in healthcare.

The discussion unpacks how clinical coding underpins care quality, funding models, and system performance, while tracing its journey from manual processes to advanced, technology-enabled workflows.

The conversation also dives into the practical application of AI, including how automation is being used to support clinical documentation, improve data accuracy, and ease workforce pressures.

It also examines the importance of governance, local context, and human oversight in ensuring AI delivers meaningful and safe outcomes.

Drawing on real-world experience, the episode highlights Solventum’s work with hospital systems and offers insight into how health organisations can approach digital transformation in a way that balances innovation with accountability.

This episode was recorded during the HIMSS26 conference, capturing industry conversations and innovations showcased at the event.

Key Takeaways

🛠 Clinical coding is the digital language of health, vital for accurate patient care and health system management

🤖 AI and machine learning are transforming clinical coding, enabling automation while retaining the need for human oversight

📈 Clinical Document Improvement (CDI) enhances record accuracy, ensuring care is properly reflected and measured

💡 Solventum's 360 Encompass platform combines coding, CDI, and quality management for scalable hospital outcomes

🔑 Strategic adoption requires trusted partners, regulatory compliance, and understanding the local healthcare landscape

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction & Troy’s background

01:35 What is clinical coding?

03:50 Evolution of technology in coding

05:59 Clinical Document Improvement explained

09:04 Solventum’s AI tools at HIMSS

11:22 360 Encompass platform overview

13:19 AI's impact on clinical coding roles

15:37 Recommendations for health systems

18:56 Key focus areas for Australian healthcare

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Sean Walker, CTO of Alcidion, about the role of AI in healthcare software development, the architecture behind Alcidion’s Miya Precision platform, and how thoughtful AI adoption is helping improve outcomes for both clinicians and patients.

The conversation explores how healthcare software is evolving, from the importance of getting foundational architecture right through to building systems that can scale and adapt as clinical needs change.

They also unpack how AI is being used in practice, not just as a clinical support tool, but as a way to accelerate development, streamline workflows, and enhance the way software is designed and delivered.

Along the way, the discussion highlights the balance between speed and responsibility, the growing role of regulation, and why keeping clinicians involved remains critical to building trust in AI-driven systems.

This episode offers a grounded look at where AI is making a real impact today, and what it takes to build healthcare technology that is both innovative and safe.

Key Takeaways

🚀 Building strong software foundations is essential for scaling and integrating advanced capabilities like AI and large language models.

💡 Distinct uses of AI exist: both in software development processes and as clinical decision support tools.

👥 Keeping humans in the loop is critical for maintaining trust and reliability in clinical AI applications.

🛠️ Skills like context engineering and agentic workflows are becoming necessary, beyond simple prompt engineering.

🌐 Registered and codified AI tools, such as Alcidion’s concept detection, enable more robust clinical data and contribute to improved patient outcomes.

Timestamps

01:12 — Introduction to Alcidion and Sean’s role

03:06 — Approaching platform architecture in healthtech

06:30 — Disruptive AI capabilities and transformations

10:22 — AI’s impact on software development workflow

19:49 — Outcomes for clinicians and patients

23:48 — TGA certification and concept detection

28:09 — Human-in-the-loop for clinical AI

34:08 — Future-ready software developer skills

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.

And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Dr Max Mollenkopf is joined by Dr Tom Kelly to unpack the evolution of Heidi, an AI-powered clinical documentation tool, from its early experimentation in general practice to its growing presence across health systems globally.

The conversation traces the realities of building in digital health, including early missteps, product pivots, and the challenge of finding meaningful product-market fit in a complex and highly regulated environment.

The discussion goes beyond surface-level AI hype to examine how tools like Heidi are being shaped by real clinical workflows.

It explores the practical challenges of integrating with existing practice management systems, navigating regulatory frameworks across different regions, and competing in an increasingly crowded international market.

There is also a focus on the rise of AI-powered clinical scribing, the role of large language models, and how these technologies are changing the day-to-day experience of clinicians.

Alongside the technical and commercial considerations, the episode reflects on broader questions facing the sector, including safety, interoperability, and the cost of scaling AI in healthcare.

It also looks ahead to emerging use cases such as real-time evidence retrieval and patient-facing applications, offering a grounded perspective on where AI is delivering value today and where it may have the greatest impact in the future.

Key Takeaways

✨ Product evolution and lessons learned Heidi started as a triage and workflow automation tool and shifted focus to clinical AI scribing in response to market needs and advancements in AI models.

💬 Integration and interoperability challenges Integrating with practice management systems remains complex and highly dependent on regional vendors and technical standards, highlighting the ongoing struggle for efficient interoperability in healthcare.

🌍 Global competition and expansion Heidi's growth strategy and competition vary by country, with different primary competitors in Australia, the UK, and North America, and a keen focus on clinician-centric product development.

🛠️ Regulation and medical device territory AI-based clinical tools like Heidi must constantly reassess their compliance with evolving software as a medical device rules, which differ across international markets.

🤝 Feedback-driven design Heidi’s freemium model enabled rapid feedback loops from clinicians, shaping product features and spurring adoption in both individual practices and enterprise hospital deals.

Timestamps

00:00 Heidi’s origins and early pivots

03:37 Traction and barriers to product adoption

09:01 Pivot to AI-powered scribing

14:11 Drivers of Heidi’s growth and market position

18:56 Competitors in each market

22:45 Evidence product launch and vision

29:17 Software as a medical device, regulatory lines

37:37 Relationships with PMS providers

44:16 Interoperability barriers and national health records

52:13 The cost of AI in clinical tools

54:40 Expanding to communications and voice products

57:32 Consumer-facing applications and future directions

59:59 Will AI replace clinicians?

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Kate Ebrill, Grahame Grieve, Dr Chris Moy, Dr John Lambert, Sandra Cook, Dr Jill Freyne, Professor Brett Sutton, and Professor Mark Braunstein about data standards, information exchange, and implementation challenges in Australia’s digital health sector.

The discussion explores the Sparked Initiative and its co-design approach to developing national standards, with a focus on creating consistent, secure, and meaningful ways to share health information.

The episode also examines what it takes to move from policy into real-world implementation, including the role of infrastructure, vendor engagement, and support for different parts of the health system.

Emerging technologies such as AI and FHIR are considered in the context of improving data quality, enabling interoperability, and shaping how health information is created, shared, and used.

Across the conversation, contributors provide insights from clinical practice, technical architecture, and national strategy, offering a grounded view of the opportunities and challenges ahead as Australia continues to build a more connected and effective digital health ecosystem.

This episode was recorded at the Sparked Community co-design workshops in Hobart, an event dedicated to accelerating the creation and development of national FHIR standards for health information exchange in Australia.

Key Takeaways

✨ Nationally aligned data standards are essential for enabling safe and scalable digital health innovation across Australia, with implementation and policy alignment now the main focus

💬 Sparked focuses on co-design, ensuring data standards are fit for purpose for all Australians through direct engagement with clinicians, consumers, industry, and government

🤝 The need for high-quality, standardised data is becoming more urgent as AI adoption increases; clean inputs lead to more reliable outputs

🚀 Infrastructure like HealthConnect Australia and a national FHIR repository are being developed to support ecosystem-wide adoption

🔄 Tasmania is positioned as an effective testbed for state-scale implementation due to its system structure, highlighting a path for broader national rollout

Timestamps

00:00 – Kate Ebrill, Sparked Lead: Event introduction and national objectives

03:26 – Grahame Grieve, HL7 FHIR product director: A history and outlook on FHIR development

04:54 – Dr Chris Moy, Clinical Co-lead: Clinician and consumer engagement

05:25 – Dr John Lambert, Chief Clinical Information Officer, Tasmania: State-scale implementation

06:25 – Sandra Cook, Connected Care, ADHA: National implementation infrastructure

07:33 – Dr Jill Freyne, Amazon Web Services: Industry implementation momentum

08:14 – Professor Brett Sutton, CSIRO Health: Real-time data for clinicians and patients

09:23 – Grahame Grieve: Patient empowerment and AI

10:15 – Professor Mark Braunstein: The global context and FHIR adoption

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch sits down with Emma Hossack, CEO of the Medical Software Industry Association (MSIA), to unpack the often overlooked role of software in keeping Australia’s healthcare system running.

The conversation explores how MSIA represents and supports the organisations building the digital infrastructure behind everyday care, and why their work is more critical than most people realise.

Peter and Emma dive into the origins and purpose of MSIA, its growing influence on health software policy, and how it is helping shape the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

They also discuss the increasing weight of regulation, the tension between compliance and innovation, and the funding challenges facing local software providers.

The discussion offers a practical look at the people and systems working behind the scenes, and why stronger collaboration between government, industry, and clinicians will be essential for the future of digital health in Australia.

Key Takeaways

💡 Over 95% of Australian healthcare operates on MSIA member platforms, making their work foundational to the sector.

🔗 MSIA acts as a bridge between industry and government, shaping and supporting health software policy and regulation.

🧑‍💻 Artificial intelligence in health tech is a major focus, with MSIA developing a voluntary code for unregulated products and leading industry-wide collaboration on AI governance.

📊 Regulatory compliance demands have increased significantly, with some software providers now spending up to 80% of their effort on meeting these requirements.

🤝 MSIA facilitates collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing through events, monthly member sessions, matchmaking, and support for overcoming industry roadblocks.

Timestamps

00:01 — Introduction to MSIA

04:00 — Industry impact and membership

07:00 — COVID-19 response and digital prescribing

12:41 — AI in healthcare and MSIA’s voluntary code

19:40 — Regulation vs. innovation in development

26:11 — Funding, training, and recent challenges

38:37 — Upcoming priorities and activities

Links and Resources:

The MSIA Voluntary Guide on responsible use of AI - Read More Here

The MSIA 2025 Productivity Brief to Government - Access Here

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Casey Going, founder of MBSPro and a rural GP, about the evolving landscape of general practice and the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

The conversation explores the operational pressures facing rural clinics, including workforce shortages, financial constraints, and the realities of delivering care outside metropolitan areas.

It also unpacks how technology is being used in real clinical settings, from streamlining administrative tasks to supporting patient triage and improving Medicare billing processes.

Broader themes around practice sustainability, recruitment, and the shift towards larger, more specialised clinics are examined, alongside the opportunities and challenges that come with adopting new digital tools.

The episode offers a grounded look at how innovation is shaping primary care today, and what the future may hold for practice owners navigating a rapidly changing environment.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Operational pressures drive tech adoption: Rural clinics face significant recruitment and financial challenges, making technology and AI tools essential for streamlining processes and reducing overhead.

🤖 AI enhances efficiency, not replaces staff: Technology is being implemented to reduce cognitive load and repetitive tasks among staff, allowing people to focus on more value-adding activities, not eliminating jobs.

💸 Medicare funding misconceptions: Medicare offers rebates, not free care; financial sustainability for clinics requires careful billing and operational strategy as margins remain tight.

🏥 Future of general practice: Practices are likely to become larger and more specialised, with AI assistance and a shift toward two tiers of clinics—ultra-lean bulk billing models and comprehensive, tech-enabled fee-for-service clinics.

👥 Practice ownership advice: Aspiring owners should seek mentors beyond general practice and embrace technology and business principles from other industries for sustainable operations.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction & guest background

03:53 - Rural practice operational pressures

07:01 - Balancing clinical care, innovation, and sustainability

09:24 - AI implementation examples

14:11 - Medicare funding & misconceptions

16:41 - Predicted future clinic models

19:21 - Accreditation burden & compliance

23:16 - Financial sustainability of clinics

31:18 - Practical advice for practice owners

33:37 - Upcoming MBS Pro features

________

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dan Wijeratne, founder of MyGPMPtool (MGT), and Genevieve McLauren-Lee, a registered nurse and practice manager at My Medical Services Australia.

The discussion explores how patient demographics vary across clinics and the evolving role of technology in general practice.

It also covers structural changes in care planning within Australian healthcare, along with practical strategies to improve patient engagement and clinician efficiency.

The episode unpacks how patient-centric care, effective communication tools, and the balance of business and medicine are shaping sustainable health practices.

Key Takeaways

🩺 General practice faces diverse patient demographics and challenges

🕒 Technology enables faster, more meaningful consultations without compromising patient interaction

📝 Structural changes in care planning emphasise patient-centric, team-based approaches

🤝 Effective patient engagement depends on meaningful communication and tailored tools

💼 Sustainable practice requires tools balancing clinician efficiency, patient experience, and business demands

Timestamps

00:00 Introductions & practice overview

03:12 Responsive, innovative general practice

06:02 Technology's role in patient-GP interaction

07:24 Chronic disease vs. preventative care

12:24 Health cues and brief assessments

14:48 Structural healthcare changes in Australia

21:41 Technology supporting patient experience

26:06 Balancing patient, clinician, and business needs

________

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Lars Borup, Clinical Manager at Dedalus, and Andrew Mitchell, Paramedic Clinical Consultant for Australia and New Zealand, about the growing issue of ambulance ramping and the pressures facing paramedics and emergency departments.

They discuss the human and operational impacts of patients waiting outside hospitals, and the complex factors driving congestion, from changing social structures to system bottlenecks.

The conversation also explores digital solutions for streamlining patient handovers, including real-time data sharing, electronic patient care records, and coordinated care pathways.

Drawing on both local experiences and international models from Europe, Lars and Andrew highlight how improved communication between pre-hospital care and hospitals can reduce delays and optimise patient flow.

They also show how connecting with primary care providers supports better outcomes across the wider health system.

This episode highlights how technology, workflow improvements, and integrated care can transform emergency services.

Key Takeaways

🔄 Growing demand in healthcare leads to complex ambulance ramping and bed block challenges in Australia and globally

👨‍⚕️ Secondary triage and alternate care pathways are being developed to reduce hospital load

📱 Real-time electronic patient care records enable hospitals to prepare more effectively for incoming patients

🤝 Seamless communication and integrated data sharing between paramedics, hospitals, and primary care are critical for efficient transitions

🚑 Structured digital tools support paramedics in decision-making and workflow, leading to improved patient safety and quality

Timestamps

00:00 — Speaker introductions

05:19 — Why not just add resources?

07:47 — Is ramping just shifting the block?

10:23 — Transition and handover points

12:23 — Real-time electronic records in Denmark

17:26 — Pre-arrival notification in Australia

26:15 — Digital support tools for paramedics

28:40 — Unified ED and ambulance workflow

32:49 — Addressing ambulance ramping: Communication

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, guest host and clinician Dr Max Mollenkopf is joined by Cliffe Hodgkinson, co-founder of Updoc, to explore the rapidly evolving world of telehealth and digital healthcare in Australia.

The discussion dives deep into how Updoc is reshaping access to primary care, using technology to streamline patient intake, triage, and workflow management while maintaining robust clinical governance.

The episode also examines the challenges and opportunities of building a digital health business, from recruiting and engaging clinicians with flexible work models to navigating economic pressures and policy changes.

The conversation explores patient expectations in the digital age, the practical realities of delivering online consultations, and the ways digital platforms can complement traditional GP services.

Cliffe and Max explore what drives patient adoption, how friction points in traditional clinics are being addressed, and what the future may hold for hybrid models of care that blend online and in-person consultations.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Updoc offers flexible, on-demand telehealth for routine and urgent care across Australia, focusing on accessibility for rural and time-poor patients.

🔗 Incremental innovation and listening to user feedback drive continuous improvements in patient intake flows, data integration and care delivery.

👨‍⚕️ Doctors are attracted by hyper-flexible work arrangements, supporting clinicians returning to work and those balancing multiple roles.

⚖️ Updoc prioritises clinical governance, developing frameworks for patient safety, credentialing, and collaborating with Patients Australia on digital health standards.

💡 Telehealth complements, but doesn’t replace, in-person care, offering new pathways for multimodal, hybrid healthcare delivery in Australia.

Timestamps

00:00 – Updoc introduction & mission

00:05 – Updoc's formative experiences

06:47 – Incremental innovation at UpDoc

14:30 – Clinician engagement & workforce

16:49 – Clinical governance approach

22:02 – Accessibility focus: rural/time-poor

29:30 – The future of telehealth vs. traditional care

38:53 – Potential for hybrid & triage models

44:03 – Patient impact story

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