Avsnitt
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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:
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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.
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+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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:
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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:
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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?
--------
Want to keep the conversation going?
The full article and extended show notes for this episode are available inside the THT+ Community here: View Full Article Here
In the THT+ Community, our members keep the discussion going, share perspectives, and unpack what this episode actually means in practice with other people working in healthtech.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to full articles, episode discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus.
And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.
Mentioned in this episode:
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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
--------
Want to keep the conversation going?
The full article and extended show notes for this episode are available inside the THT+ Community here: View Full Article Here
In the THT+ Community, our members keep the discussion going, share perspectives, and unpack what this episode actually means in practice with other people working in healthtech.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to full articles, episode discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus
And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.
Mentioned in this episode:
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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
--------
Want to keep the conversation going?
The full article and extended show notes for this episode are available inside the THT+ Community here: View Full Article
In the THT+ Community, our members keep the discussion going, share perspectives, and unpack what this episode actually means in practice with other people working in healthtech.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to full articles, episode discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus.
And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.
Mentioned in this episode:
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
-
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
________
Want to keep the conversation going?
The full article and extended show notes for this episode are available inside the THT+ Community here: View Full Article Here
In the THT+ Community, our members keep the discussion going, share perspectives, and unpack what this episode actually means in practice with other people working in healthtech.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to full articles, episode discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus.
And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.
Mentioned in this episode:
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit
Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.
- Visa fler