Talking HealthTech

Talking HealthTech

Conversations with clinicians, vendors, policy makers and decision makers to promote innovation and collaboration for better healthcare enabled by technology. Learn about digital health, medical devices, medtech, biotech, health informatics, life sciences, aged care, disability, commercialisation, startups and so much more.

  1. 586 - Innovating Aged Care and Cancer Treatment: Inside ANDHealth Unfiltered 2025

    1 HR AGO

    586 - Innovating Aged Care and Cancer Treatment: Inside ANDHealth Unfiltered 2025

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Carmela Sergi, CEO of the Care Economy CRC, Amanda Caples, Victoria's Chief Scientist, Jeff Malone, CEO of the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), and Trang Nguyen, CEO and Founder of SeeTreat, about the intersection of digital health, innovation, and commercialisation in Australia. The conversations explore how health technology is designed, implemented, and scaled in real care settings, with a focus on patient outcomes, workforce realities, and practical adoption. The episode includes in-depth discussion on the future of the care economy and how co-design and end-user involvement are driving more effective, compassionate, and practical solutions. The discussion also dives into the emerging role of quantum technology in healthcare, strategies for translating research into real-world products, and how cross-sector collaboration can accelerate home-grown innovation. This episode was recorded during the ANDHealth Unfiltered 2025 event in Melbourne, Australia, and features several discussions that highlight evolving trends and front-line experiences in Australian healthtech. Key Takeaways 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Care Economy CRC focuses on integrating technology and data to uplift productivity and outcomes across aged care, disability care, early childhood education, and more, with a major emphasis on co-design and workforce involvement. 🤝 Effective health innovation requires collaboration among government, academia, and industry, with models like ACMD and event conveners like ANDHealth driving partnerships. 📉Technology uptake in healthcare faces barriers including workflow integration, clinician overload, and the risk of unintended consequences, making co-design with end users critical to success. 🦠 Quantum technologies and advanced analytics are emerging as significant contributors to research, service delivery, and patient outcomes, with Victoria positioning itself as an ecosystem leader. 💊 Translation from research to commercialisation is improving in Australia, but ongoing focus on ecosystem navigation, workforce engagement, and industry partnerships remains essential. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:28 – Carmela Sergi, CEO, Care Economy CRC 08:34 – Amanda Caples, Victoria’s Chief Scientist 16:34 – Jeff Malone, CEO, ACMD 26:37 –Trang Nguyen, CEO & Founder, SeeTreat -------- 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 others 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: This episode is supported by Vanta - the platform trusted by 14,000+ companies to get SOC 2 and ISO audit-ready faster and build enterprise-grade security early. Save $1,000 at https://vanta.com/THT

    41 min
  2. 585 - Optimising Patient Flow: Mindset, Metrics, and Continuous Improvement for Hospital Leaders

    1 DAY AGO

    585 - Optimising Patient Flow: Mindset, Metrics, and Continuous Improvement for Hospital Leaders

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Paul Deffley and Nick White from Alcidion about their new handbook on improving patient flow within healthcare systems. The conversation explores why the handbook has been released now, its intended audience, and how its concepts can support leaders and clinicians in enhancing the movement of patients through hospitals. The discussion examines the current pressures facing hospitals, including rising patient demand, workforce challenges, and system inefficiencies, and considers why traditional approaches to patient flow are no longer sufficient. Lessons from other industries are explored, highlighting how principles such as systems thinking and Lean methodology can be adapted for healthcare. The episode emphasises the combination of real-time data, organisational culture, and continuous improvement as central to creating safer, more efficient, and patient-centred hospital systems. Key Takeaways ✅ Patient flow is more than implementing digital solutions—real change requires cultural and behavioural transformation within health organisations ✅ Real-time, system-wide visibility is critical for effective patient flow management and making data-driven decisions ✅ Adopting approaches from other industries, like Lean principles, must be tailored to the unique clinical and operational environment of healthcare ✅ Measuring a broad range of indicators beyond standard KPIs (e.g., length of stay, outliers, medically ready to discharge) provides better insights and guides improvement ✅ Practical actions like shop floor engagement and prioritising system-wide visibility can drive immediate and meaningful change Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:47 – Who the handbook is for and its purpose 01:33 – Why address patient flow now 02:41 – The importance of system-wide visibility 03:39 – Practical tools from the handbook 05:29 – Comparing healthcare to other industries 07:52 – Customising industry methods for clinical environments 08:57 – Differentiating patient flow discussions from electronic patient records 10:46 – The challenge of demonstrating return on investment in patient flow initiatives 14:30 – Rethinking metrics for measuring success in patient flow 17:27 – Actions health leaders can take today 19:01 – Actionable advice for immediate implementation 20:25 – How to access the handbook -------- 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: This episode is supported by Vanta - the platform trusted by 14,000+ companies to get SOC 2 and ISO audit-ready faster and build enterprise-grade security early. Save $1,000 at https://vanta.com/THT

    24 min
  3. 584 - The Next Wave of Healthcare Payments: Integration, Transparency & Trust

    3 DAYS AGO

    584 - The Next Wave of Healthcare Payments: Integration, Transparency & Trust

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Pete Williams, CTO of Tyro Health. The episode explores the evolution of healthcare payments, including the transition from Medipass to Tyro Health and the latest trends in digital wallets. It also covers the practicalities of surcharging, regulatory changes, integrated payment solutions, and the potential impact of technologies like stablecoin and PayTo on medical payments for clinics and patients in Australia. Peter and Pete break down what these changes mean for clinics of all sizes, from day-to-day operations to long-term strategy. They discuss how seamless payment experiences can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance patient satisfaction, while also highlighting the risks and challenges practices face in a fast-moving digital payments landscape. The conversation offers practical insights, real-world examples, and a forward-looking view of where healthcare payments are heading. Key Takeaways 💳 The shift to digital wallets has reshaped payments in healthcare, with over 90% of card-present transactions now happening via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or similar options. 🔁 Surcharging remains a significant consideration for clinics, with around 40% of medical businesses enabling it, though regulations may change. 📲 Integration between payment systems and practice management platforms is now common, driving efficiency with over 70% of clinics automating their payment and reconciliation workflows. 🪙 Emerging payment innovations such as programmable money and advanced bank-to-bank systems like PayTo have the potential to change how recurring and complex healthcare payments are managed. 🏦 Less than 35% of overall healthcare payments are processed through Medicare, making integration with private insurers and funders increasingly critical for clinics. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:31 – Changes since Medipass and acquisition by Tyro Health 01:32 – Payment technology experiences in healthcare 02:46 – Growth of the Tyro Health team 03:18 – Clinic perspective on payments 04:36 – Impact of digital wallets 05:39 – Clinic decisions and recent regulatory changes 07:22 – Surcharging rules for debit vs credit cards 08:04 – Balancing payment convenience for patients 08:43 – Percentage impact of payment costs on clinic margins 10:03 – Integrating payments with practice management systems 10:52 – Automation and three-way matching in clinics 12:29 – Approaches to optimising payments 13:53 – Programmable money, stablecoin, and use cases 15:46 – Payment innovation and health system challenges 17:01 – Distributed autonomous organisations 17:21 – PayTo, direct debit, and recurring payments 20:37 – Integrating more funders and improving patient experience 22:29 – Wrap up and resources -------- 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...

    26 min
  4. 583 - Navigating Health Technology Assessments: Overcoming Barriers to Patient Access

    4 DAYS AGO

    583 - Navigating Health Technology Assessments: Overcoming Barriers to Patient Access

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Associate Professor Colman Taylor and Alasdair Godfrey from HTANALYSTS about the evolving landscape of health technology assessment in Australia. The conversation explores how regulatory change, patient engagement and real-world evidence are reshaping the way new technologies are assessed, funded and adopted. It also examines the challenges health tech companies face when bringing innovation to market in Australia and across international settings. They share practical insights into what these changes mean for innovators, clinicians and policy-makers navigating an increasingly complex system. This episode looks at how value is defined beyond the limits of clinical trials. It also highlights why patient experience and practical implementation are becoming increasingly important in decisions about health technology. Together, these insights offer a grounded and timely perspective on the forces shaping the future of Australian health technology. Key Takeaways 🔍 The "valley of death" is a significant hurdle for Australian health tech innovators, where promising technologies struggle to secure funding and market access. 💡 Health Technology Assessment (HTA) frameworks are adapting to consider new dimensions such as equity, patient-centred outcomes, and system impact, beyond traditional cost and clinical effectiveness. 👥 Patient engagement is increasingly recognised as critical, with patients now actively involved in advisory boards and decision-making processes, offering perspectives beyond those of clinicians. 📊 Real-world evidence is helping to fill gaps left by clinical trials, providing insight into system readiness, implementation feasibility, and outcomes for diverse populations. 🌏 International policy changes, particularly from the US and UK, are influencing Australia’s HTA processes and impacting access to innovative therapies for patients. Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:02:05 – Overview of HTANALYSTS and their purpose 00:03:26 – The “valley of death” 00:05:56 – Explaining Health Technology Assessment 00:07:09 – Traditional metrics vs. evolving HTA frameworks 00:08:33 – Government reviews in HTA 00:10:46 – The role of patient engagement and inclusion in HTA 00:12:29 – Application of patient engagement 00:14:10 – Real-world evidence: its role and impact 00:16:27 – Faster access, data barriers, and implementation challenges 00:18:21 – Agility in assessment processes 00:20:09 – Examples of flexibility in healthcare guidelines 00:22:26 – What innovators can do now 00:23:47 – MFN policy changes in the US 00:26:07 – HTANALYSTS’ role as middlemen bridging stakeholders 00:27:15 – Lessons about collaboration, evidence, and early alignment 00:29:06 – Importance of implementation 00:29:55 – Future directions -------- 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: a href="https://go.talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    33 min
  5. 582 - North Star vs Shiny Star: Supporting Healthcare Workers and Patient Outcomes with AI

    4 FEB

    582 - North Star vs Shiny Star: Supporting Healthcare Workers and Patient Outcomes with AI

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dominique Powis, Chief Technology Officer at Infomedix, Dr John Lambert, Chief Clinical Information Officer for the Department of Health Tasmania, and Dr Jill Freyne, Health Industry Lead at Amazon Web Services. They discuss the practical applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare and explore its real-world operational impact. The conversation also includes insights from attendees during a live Q&A session, offering a unique opportunity to hear questions and challenges directly from healthcare professionals and technology leaders. The panel dives into real-world use cases of AI, including diagnostics, predictive analytics, improving patient outcomes, and boosting administrative efficiency. They also examine the critical importance of governance, privacy, and practical implementation when integrating AI into everyday clinical workflows. This episode was recorded live at AWS in Sydney, Australia, and is supported by Infomedix, providing an up-close look at how healthcare AI is being applied in local and global contexts. Key Takeaways ⭐ Clear problem definition, high-quality data, and context-specific solutions are crucial to successful AI applications in healthcare 🤖 Predictive AI currently offers proven impact in areas such as diagnostics and early detection, while generative AI introduces unique challenges 🧑‍⚕️ Human-centred design, usability, and workflow integration are critical to successful technology adoption and patient benefit 🔒 Privacy, compliance, and ethical guardrails must evolve with technological advancements, particularly in data handling and patient confidentiality 🌏 Sustainability, change management, and continuous improvement are essential considerations in deploying and scaling AI across the health ecosystem Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & event overview 02:00 – Panellist introductions & AI use cases 06:35 – AI pattern recognition benefits 08:39 – Sniff test for viable AI solutions 10:23 – Administrative AI applications 12:45 – Impact opportunities: patient & clinician 14:28 – Administrative vs clinical AI focus 15:35 – Evidence and business cases for ambient scribes 20:06 – Guardrails and governance in AI 22:35 – Change management for AI rollouts 26:30 – Practical advice: North Star vs shiny distractions 32:09 – Audience Q&A: patient privacy, data use 37:39 – Use of AI in culturally diverse aged care settings 44:06 – AI risks, safety, technical guardrails 48:11 – Sustainability and long-term impact ---------- 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: This episode is supported by Vanta - the platform trusted by 14,000+ companies to get SOC 2 and ISO audit-ready...

    33 min
  6. 581 - Advice and Guidance in Practice: Improving Equity and Outcomes for Patients and Clinicians

    2 FEB

    581 - Advice and Guidance in Practice: Improving Equity and Outcomes for Patients and Clinicians

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with a panel of healthcare experts, including Stephanie Hodgson, physiotherapist, health project manager and industry PhD candidate at ConsultMed; Dr Shoma Dutt, paediatric gastroenterologist and senior staff specialist at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead; Dr Matthew Lam, GP and clinical advisor to ConsultMed at Riverstone Family Medical Practice; Charlie Winstanley, general manager of cardiovascular at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust; and Dalia Croxton, senior project manager for digital health and business systems at Mater Group. The conversation dives into the evolving role of advice and guidance (A&G) models in shaping patient outcomes, clinician workflows, and healthcare access across Australia and the UK. The panel discusses practical benefits, such as reducing wait times, improving triage, and supporting GPs to manage complex cases more confidently. Gain insights into how digital referral pathways and emerging technologies like AI are changing the way specialists and primary care providers collaborate. This episode also highlights lessons learned, the importance of leadership and culture, and the challenges that remain in making A&G work effectively for both clinicians and patients. Key Takeaways 👩‍⚕️ Advice and guidance (A&G) allows GPs and primary care providers to obtain timely specialist input without formal referrals, helping address outpatient waitlists and geographical inequities in access to care. 🚀 Examples from paediatrics, mental health, endocrinology, and other specialties show A&G resolves a significant proportion of referrals, keeping patients managed in primary care or redirecting them to more suitable services. 🌏 Both Australian and UK health systems are implementing A&G at scale, with New South Wales and Queensland adopting statewide models and the NHS seeing significant appointment diversion, reducing waiting times and improving resource use. 🤝 Effective A&G relies on streamlined workflows, bi-directional communication between primary and specialist care, clear referral criteria, and support for GPs as central care coordinators. 🤖 The future of A&G may include multidisciplinary expansion, integration with allied health, and advanced technology such as AI to improve efficiency and access for patients—while ensuring the focus remains on better outcomes and equity. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction 1:18 – Stephanie Hodgson defines advice and guidance 3:02 – Dr Shoma Dutt shares real-world impacts in paediatric gastroenterology 5:32 – Dr Matthew Lam describes case studies where A&G adds value and boosts equity 9:54 – Stephanie Hodgson discusses the impact of data and equity 13:01 – Dr Shoma Dutt on developing a statewide referral criteria 16:43 – Charlie Winstanley talks about A&G adoption 23:11 – Panel consensus on key ingredients for scaling A&G: leadership, technology, education, making it frictionless for GPs, and measuring impact 33:07 – Dalia Croxton on A&G transparency for patients 35:20 – Charlie Winstanley and Stephanie Hodgson explore future directions 40:21 – Dr Matthew Lam on keeping patient outcomes at the centre ------- 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...

    45 min
  7. 580 - Beyond Episodic Care: How Digital Health Platforms Transform Care Coordination

    1 FEB

    580 - Beyond Episodic Care: How Digital Health Platforms Transform Care Coordination

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Nalaka Withanage, CEO and co-founder of Data Capture Experts, the organisation behind the Digital Health Platform DC2Vue. The discussion explores the fragmentation of data in healthcare and the importance of longitudinal care records. They also examine the evolving role of digital health platforms compared to traditional EHRs, along with the opportunities and challenges associated with artificial intelligence and data governance in healthcare innovation. Dive into the practical steps healthcare organisations can take to build strong data foundations, improve interoperability, and create workflows that truly support person-centred care. The conversation also goes beyond the hype around AI, examining how real value emerges only when technology is underpinned by complete, accurate, and context-rich data. Key Takeaways 🗂️ Data fragmentation in healthcare is a core challenge, often caused by the use of multiple, siloed systems across various care settings. 👩‍⚕️ Longitudinal care records provide a continuous, patient-centred view across different healthcare touchpoints, improving care coordination and outcomes. 🔑 Foundational data quality and integration are essential for enabling advanced analytics, artificial intelligence adoption, and workflow optimisation. 🔒 Privacy, consent management, and security, using principles like zero trust, must be embedded in digital health platforms to balance innovation with safety. 🚀 To unlock the full value of AI in healthcare, organisations should focus on strong data foundations, process-oriented thinking, and workflow automation before layering in advanced technologies. Timestamps 00:00:00 — Introduction 00:01:25 — Why data fragmentation persists in healthcare 00:02:54 — What is a longitudinal care record 00:03:59 — Highlighting benefits of longitudinal health records 00:05:08 — Differences between Digital Health platforms and traditional EHRs 00:07:38 — The role of AI in digital health 00:11:12 — Balancing innovation with privacy, security, and governance 00:14:04 — Key advice for healthcare CIOs on leveraging data and AI 00:15:14 — The roadmap for DC2 View and trends in virtual care and remote patient monitoring ——— 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: This episode is supported by Vanta - the platform trusted by 14,000+ companies to get SOC 2 and ISO audit-ready faster and build enterprise-grade security early. Save $1,000 at https://vanta.com/THT

    19 min
  8. 579 - Scaling Predictive Healthcare: How No Code Platforms Drive Personalised Digital Therapeutics

    29 JAN

    579 - Scaling Predictive Healthcare: How No Code Platforms Drive Personalised Digital Therapeutics

    In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Leon Young, CEO and Founder at Cogniss, and Dr Frank Iorfino, Associate Professor at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. The discussion focuses on no-code health technology platforms, digital mental health solutions, and the challenges and opportunities in delivering predictive and preventative healthcare, particularly in youth mental health. The episode covers Cogniss' evolution, the role of digital and predictive tools in healthcare systems, and real-world applications in clinical research and practice. The conversation offers insights into how health professionals can use no-code platforms to build, refine, and scale digital solutions, the importance of personalisation in mental health care, and the ways predictive analytics can identify risks and support early intervention. It also examines the barriers to scaling innovation in health systems and how collaborative approaches are helping to bridge the gap between pilots and broader implementation. Practical examples of digital health tools in action are highlighted, from apps supporting youth mental health to predictive solutions for conditions such as sepsis and chronic illness. Key Takeaways ✨ No-code technology enables health professionals and researchers to build, maintain, and scale digital health solutions more efficiently, reducing development costs and barriers to market entry. 🤝 Effective prediction and early intervention in healthcare, particularly mental health, require accessible digital solutions that can personalise care, track outcomes, and help prevent illness escalation. 📱 Real-world applications, such as using wearables and health data integration for predictive models, are being developed for youth mental health and chronic conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases. 🔗 The challenge of delivering digital therapeutics at scale stems from complex procurement, a lack of clear ownership in health systems, and the need for unified infrastructures that support solution interoperability and patient data control. 🌏 Initiatives like Ripple aim to support priority populations and address gaps in digital health by building a catalogue of evidence-based solutions targeted to specific health challenges, such as women’s health and youth mental health. Timestamps & Main Topics 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Leon Young introduces himself and Cogniss 02:57 Dr Frank Iorfino shares his experience in youth mental health and digital solutions 04:08 Discussion on the importance of early intervention 06:21 The vision for predictive tools 08:28 Dr Frank Iorfino explains the Mind Your Mind app 10:54 Researcher challenges and the value of no-code platforms 13:01 Adapting no-code solutions beyond white-labelled apps 14:09 Growing the platform through demand-driven development 17:03 The need for infrastructure that can deploy multiple digital solutions 19:49 Areas of highest potential for predictive healthcare technologies 20:36 Examples of predictive health projects 22:12 Dr Iorfino expands on why youth mental health is a pressing priority 24:51 Barriers to scaling predictive and preventative healthcare solutions 26:11 Developing a marketplace approach to better match innovations 30:37 Closing remarks and how to connect with Cogniss ---- 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...

    34 min
See All (607)

About

Conversations with clinicians, vendors, policy makers and decision makers to promote innovation and collaboration for better healthcare enabled by technology. Learn about digital health, medical devices, medtech, biotech, health informatics, life sciences, aged care, disability, commercialisation, startups and so much more.

Information

More From Talking HealthTech

You Might Also Like