Talking HealthTech

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Stacey Clifford and Chris Roll from Daedalus about interoperability, structured data, and ambulance workflows in the Australian healthcare context. The discussion covers the development and implementation of the amPHI platform, which enables connected electronic patient care records for ambulance services, and explores how structured data and interoperability are being used to transform pre-hospital care, support clinical decision-making, and improve continuity of care. The episode also touches on the real-world deployment of amPHI in South Australia and lessons learned from international implementations.Key Takeaways:

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jane Thompson, Chief Product Officer at MediRecords, and Dr. Max Mollenkopf, a GP and practice owner in Newcastle.The discussion explores the evolving landscape of patient empowerment through access to their own health records, the impact of technology on general practice, and how MediRecords is shaping both the clinician and patient experience.The episode covers the challenges and opportunities in digitising healthcare workflows, the changing expectations of consumers, and the development of patient portals as a bridge between clinicians and their patients.Key Takeaways:

Virtual healthcare has become a fixture in the Australian health landscape, but not everyone has the same privilege to easy access. Distance, availability, digital literacy, and cultural safety remain major barriers, especially in regional, rural, and remote communities. This episode of Talking HealthTech with Margot Morton from CareZen explores how virtual care pods, purpose-built environments for virtual care, are attempting to bridge these gaps. The conversation delves into the design, deployment, and early impact of these solutions, and what it takes to improve healthcare access across diverse Australian communities.Access the full episode article: www.talkinghealtech.com/podcastJoin the Talking HealthTech newsletter: www.talkinghealthtech.com/newsletterBecome a THT+ Member: www.talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Alan Pritchard (Director EMR and ICT Services, Austin Health), Catherine de Fontenay (Commissioner, Productivity Commission), Dr Shannon Nott (Chief Medical Officer, Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section), and Karen Gallagher (General Manager of Strategy & Consumer Experience, Healthdirect) about innovation, digital health adoption, productivity, and patient-centred care in Australian healthcare.The discussion covers challenges and approaches to technology implementation, productivity gains and system efficiencies, digital health equity, and empowering consumers through self-care and trustworthy health information.This episode was recorded during the Digital Health Festival 2025 in Melbourne, Australia and features several of the conversations that Talking HealthTech captured on the ground during the event.Timestamps:00:00 - 01:06 Introduction01:07 - 11:33 Alan Pritchard, Director EMR and ICT Services, Austin Health11:34 - 18:37 Ca

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with James Somauroo, the host of The Healthtech Podcast.The episode covers the evolving landscape of digital health, the practical impact and deployment of AI in healthcare, the digital divide, and the future role of empathy in health technology. This episode was recorded live on stage during the Digital Health Festival 2025 in Melbourne, Australia.Key Takeaways✒️ The current wave of AI adoption in healthcare is progressing rapidly, with significant moves such as deploying AI scribes in UK general practices and AI-driven dermatology services being approved for use.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Brad Kearns, Head of Strategic Workforce Planning & Talent Acquisition at Uniting NSW.ACT, about the realities of workforce management in aged care and the organisation’s journey with RLDatix’s technology platforms. Recorded from the RLDatix booth at the Digital Health Festival 2025, the conversation explores how Uniting leverages workforce management systems to improve rostering, enhance staff experience, and drive operational efficiency across their residential aged care and community services.Key TakeawaysTechnology implementation in aged care goes beyond just adding new systems; true value comes from equipping people with the right skills to make the most of these tools.Uniting NSW.ACT's transition from legacy rostering to RLDatix’s Optima platform focused on workforce management compliance, payroll accuracy, and continuous process improvement rather than a one-off change.The main challenge is not the abundance of technology but consi

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Kevin Zhu and Adrian Ha from BAI Communications about the crucial role of mobile connectivity in healthcare settings. The discussion explores how BAI Communications, with its background in broadcast technology, is working to improve mobile coverage inside hospitals and other healthcare facilities through solutions like distributed antenna systems (DAS) and private mobile networks (PMNs), as well as the impact of reliable connectivity on healthcare operations and patient care.This episode was recorded at the Digital Health Festival 2025 and features a conversation providing perspective on mobile connectivity challenges and solutions within Australian healthcare.Key Takeaways:- Reliable mobile connectivity is now an essential expectation in healthcare, impacting staff workflows and patient experience.- Building materials, hospital layouts, and underground or dense environments can cause significant mobile black spots, making it challenging for

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Dr Jamie Phillips, Chief Medical Officer at Updoc, about the evolution of digital health, governance, and the challenges of delivering remote healthcare in Australia. Recorded live at Digital Health Festival 2025, the discussion covers Jamie’s journey from military medicine in the UK to rural Australia, his experiences with innovation under pressure, how Updoc addresses the healthcare access gap, and the critical need for robust digital and virtual care governance.Key Takeaways- There are strong similarities between digital health innovation and military operations: both require bold missions, robust governance, and a willingness to embrace failure as a learning opportunity.- Governance is positioned as fundamental for safe, effective, and innovative digital healthcare, offering both patient safety and freedom to innovate within clear boundaries.- Australia currently lacks a fit-for-purpose digital health governance framework; industry leader

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Niru Rajakumar, CEO of hospitals at McCrae Tech, about the company’s formation, its relationship with Orion Health, and the current direction of healthcare technology focused on AI and electronic patient records. The conversation explores McCrae Tech’s origins as a spin-off from Orion Health after a significant acquisition, the legacy of Ian McCrae, and how the company is positioned to innovate in digital health solutions for hospitals and health data platforms.This episode was recorded during the Digital Health Festival 2025, capturing the developments and conversations at the McCrae Tech booth.Key TakeawaysMcCrae Tech was launched as an innovation hub, spun off from Orion Health following the sale of half its assets related to population health.Orion Health and McCrae Tech maintain close ties, sharing board members and reciprocal agreements to utilise each other's technologies. AI is a primary strategic focus for McCrae Tech, intending to e

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Catherine Lambert, Director of Clinical Operations at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse; Cailin Lowry, IT Project Manager at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse; Matthew McBride, Solutions Executive for MEDITECH Asia Pacific; and Douglas Murray, Managing Director at MEDITECH Asia Pacific. The discussion centres around their collaborative approach to electronic medication management implementation, the phased digital transformation at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, and the ongoing partnership with MEDITECH to improve clinical workflows and patient care. This episode was recorded live from the MEDITECH booth at the Digital Health Festival 2025 in Melbourne, Australia.Key TakeawaysChris O'Brien Lifehouse has evolved from a newly established hospital to an organisation prioritising holistic cancer care, research, and wellbeing, with technology playing a central role in delivering coordinated patient services.The hospital’s journey with MEDITECH has spanned m

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Shelley Thomson, Co-founder and Director of Patient Experience Agency, about embedding patient voice and human-centred design into healthcare reform. Shelley shares Patient Experience Agency’s approach to co-designing healthcare services to deliver more personalised, outcomes-driven care, discusses the vital distinction between patient feedback and patient-reported measures, and unpacks practical strategies for clinicians and organisations to meaningfully involve patients, carers, and their families in shaping healthcare experiences.Key Takeaways: “Nothing About Me, Without Me” means co-designing healthcare with patients and carers, not just collecting feedback after making decisions.There is a crucial difference between patient satisfaction surveys (feedback on services) and Patient-Reported Outcome/Experience Measures (PROMs/PREMs), which reflect how patients are doing and what matters to them.Truly personalised care focuses on what is most

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Elizabeth Holm Rannaleet, Head of Product for Data and Insights at Telstra Health, and Dr. Matt Burton, Lead Physician Informatician at Smile Digital Health. The discussion explores population health data in Australia, the challenges of fragmented health information, the role of data infrastructure and open standards, and the recent partnership between Telstra Health and Smile Digital Health. The guests examine how improved data sharing and the adoption of modern infrastructure can enable better health outcomes, inform policy, and support clinicians, researchers, and government agencies in Australia and globally.This episode is part three of a 4-part series by Talking HealthTech in collaboration with Telstra Health and Smile Digital Health called Connected Care: Bridging Gaps in Modern Healthcare.Key Takeaways:Defining Population Health Data: Population health focuses on the health outcomes of groups, tracking the prevalence and incidence of

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Julie Sturgess, Chief Executive Officer of Country to Coast Queensland (CCQ), about democratising healthcare and driving equity in regional Australia. Julie shares her perspective on the complexities of delivering care across CCQ’s diverse region, which spans remote, rural, and outer metro areas, including Central Queensland, Wide Bay, and the Sunshine Coast.The conversation explores how data, technology, and genuine community partnerships influence new models of care, advance mental health reform, and build resilience in the face of major challenges such as disasters and homelessness.Key TakeawaysEquity as a Design Principle: Equity is not just an outcome but a foundational principle for CCQ. Achieving true health equity demands factoring in social determinants and measuring impact beyond clinical outcomes, including using sustainability frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals.Integrated, Community-led Solutions: CCQ emphasises

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Nicole Allan and Federica Lanzo from Orion Health about the realities of interoperability in healthcare. Nicole, VP of Solutioning and Delivery, brings decades of experience implementing digital health systems globally, while Federica, Product Director for Interoperability, offers a technical perspective on integrating data standards and leveraging new technology. Together, they discuss what interoperability means at the point of care, why FHIR compliance is just the beginning, the practical challenges of working across sectors and geographies, the role of AI, and how initiatives like the International Patient Summary (IPS) are shaping the future of connected healthcare.Key Takeaways:

In this episode of Consumer Health Partnerships, we speak with Debra Letica, former carer and citizen leader, and Dr Viktoria Stein from the International Foundation for Integrated Care, about the Citizens Leadership Research Project. They highlight the significant role of citizen leaders in co-creating integrated care systems and the impact of genuinely involving consumers in health care reform.Debra shares her journey of becoming a citizen leader and how her personal experiences as a carer helped her advocate for better healthcare systems. Dr Viktoria Stein explains the origins of the Citizen Leadership Research Project, and their move to involve citizen leaders from around the globe. Both discuss the importance of genuine partnerships between health professionals and consumers, offering insights into how these relationships can enhance care delivery.Key Takeaways:Importance of Inclusion: Including citizen leaders from the very start of the project to shape priorities and questions.Diverse Perspectives: Rec

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Sam Wood, Head of Product at Meddbase, and Greg Jennings, Chief Engagement Officer at Beyond Blue. The discussion centres on the current state of workplace mental health in Australia, the increasing importance of prevention and early intervention, and how technology and partnerships are reframing mental health support at work. Sam shares the story behind Meddbase's collaboration with Beyond Blue to deliver the Before Blue programme, while Greg outlines the realities facing Australian workplaces and the measurable impact of practical, data-driven solutions for mental health.Key Takeaways

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Lily Liu, the Divisional Director of Digital Health at Western Health. They discuss Western Health's recent efforts in digital health transformation, focusing on Western Health Care Connect (WHCC), a system designed to consolidate patient medical information across various visits into a single, accessible view.Key Takeaways:

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Kai Van Lieshout, cofounder and CEO of Lyrebird Health, about the rise of AI scribe technology in healthcare. The discussion explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in reducing clinicians' administrative workload, AI in primary care consultation workflows, data privacy considerations, practical realities of adopting AI scribes, and documentation automation in medical practice.Key Takeaways

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Dr Jason Brown, Chief Digital Health Officer at Metro North Health; Dr Rae Donovan, Acting Chief Clinical Information Officer of eHealth Queensland; Dr Mia McLanders, Manager of Research and Innovation at Metro North Health; Fiona Armstrong, CEO at Liquid; and Kate Wylie, Director of Health at Liquid, exploring why healthcare technology so often misses the mark. The discussion dives into why projects fail to scale, how local needs can be balanced with system reform, the importance of genuine co-design, and why adoption, rather than rollout, decides whether healthtech delivers benefit for clinicians and patients.This episode was recorded at the Clinical Skills Development Service at Metro North Health in Brisbane, during a special Future Led panel event hosted by THT+ partners Liquid. The event brought together clinicians, designers and innovators to discuss collaboration, smarter procurement, and systemic reform in healthcare technology.Key T

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Chris Pymble from Graphics et al., Dr Bhavesh Patel from Queensland Children’s Hospital, and Dr Brent Richards from Gold Coast Hospital. They dive into why good communication in healthcare is such a big deal and how it affects patient care and system efficiency.Key Takeaways:• Effective communication is crucial in healthcare, impacting not just patient outcomes but also the efficiency of healthcare systems.• Current systems often result in fragmented communication due to lack of integration, stressing the need for streamlined processes.• Digital tools, including AI, can personalise patient information, making healthcare communication more effective and accessible.• Making sure patients get what's going on involves changing up how doctors communicate, using visuals, and translating information when needed.Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who