In this episode of Talking HealthTech, the discussion centres around the profound impact digital technology and innovation have on the healthcare landscape, featuring key insights from experts like Liz Ashall-Payne, Megan Robertson, and Christopher Bain.
This episode was recorded at the ANDHealth Digital Health Summit 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
As we dive into the transformative potential of digital health, we explore how these advancements aim to revolutionise patient care, improve safety, and empower healthcare providers and patients alike.
The Transformative Power of Digital Health
The field of healthcare is undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by technological innovation. One of the profound examples highlighted by guest Megan Robertson, Group Chief Research Officer at St. Vincent's Health Australia, is the implementation of electronic medication prescribing (ePrescribing). This technology improves safety and accessibility, offering a streamlined approach to managing patient medications.
The need for real-time prescription monitoring, especially concerning drugs of addiction, underscores the critical role of digital tools in enhancing patient safety. Real-time monitoring aids in uncovering undisclosed medication use, thus ensuring the effectiveness of treatment plans.
Enhancing Patient Communication and Understanding
Communication and comprehension of medical information pose challenges for many patients. Efforts at St. Vincent's to make pathology reports more patient-friendly illustrate this shift towards clearer communication. Historically designed for doctors, these reports are now being adapted to be more understandable, empowering patients to take control of their health data.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) play a pivotal role in this endeavour, aiming for full implementation by 2025. Improved data integration in EMRs promises to streamline healthcare processes, enhancing the quality of care. By simplifying complex information, healthcare providers can foster a more engaged and informed patient population.
Building Trust Through Systemic Approaches
Liz Ashall-Payne, CEO and founder of ORCHA, strongly emphasises the importance of trust in healthcare technology. Instead of merely applying a standard, she advocates for creating a robust system for evaluating and distributing quality digital health products. It's not just about passing a checklist but about consistently ensuring the safety and effectiveness of healthcare technologies. This systemic approach aims to make a tangible impact, prioritising benefits for people and patients while striving for global reach.
Future Aspirations in Digital Health
Expanding the impact of digital health globally remains a key aspiration for Liz. Addressing the needs of less privileged countries, she envisions a future where digital health technologies are accessible worldwide. Collaboration within the digital health ecosystem is crucial to this endeavour, encouraging international cooperation and learning from diverse regulatory frameworks.
ORCHAs mission to assess and distribute digital health technologies is akin to the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring that only safe and effective products reach the market. They focus on solving health problems rather than fixating on specific solutions.
Regulation and Policy in Digital Health
Christopher Bain, Professor of Digital Health at Monash University, brings attention to the complexities of regulation and policy in the fast-paced digital health sector. Integrating government processes and healthcare system structures is essential to navigate these challenges. Despite its hurdles, the DiGA scheme demonstrates a model for government collaboration on digital health. He notes that rapid adaptation is necessary to keep up with the innovations in digital health and AI. The interplay between government funding and healthcare innovation in Australia adds another layer of complexity, especially with the federal and state divide in regulation.
The Potential of Synthetic Data
A fascinating development in healthcare data management is the use of synthetic data. Megan sheds light on this initiative, explaining how synthetic data maintains the characteristics of real data without being identifiable, enhancing data privacy and security. This advancement has the potential to revolutionise healthcare by offering innovative methods to deliver care, assess risk, and improve emergency department triage systems. Furthermore, synthetic data can catalyse new research opportunities, providing a safe yet effective way to explore large datasets.
AI and Digital Transformation in Healthcare
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape healthcare delivery, from diagnostics to patient engagement. However, the integration of AI in healthcare must be approached cautiously to avoid pitfalls such as clinician burnout and misinformation. Christopher stresses the importance of moving beyond mere digitisation to achieve digital transformation, focusing on value-based digital health.
The Role of Change Management in Digital Health
Effective change management is vital for successful digital health implementation. Megan points out the importance of adapting to new data and implementing a change management plan with strong advocates. This involves preparing healthcare professionals for digital transitions, securing buy-in from all stakeholders, and addressing any resistance to change. A robust change management strategy ensures that technological advancements are seamlessly integrated into everyday practice.
Digital Health Innovation at St. Vincent's
St. Vincents Health Australia exemplifies the strides in digital health innovation. Efforts to integrate various health datasets including pathology, radiology, admissions, and emergency records pave the way for a more cohesive and efficient healthcare system. These integrated digital healthcare systems are crucial for improving safety at care transitions, reducing errors, and enhancing overall patient outcomes. St. Vincent's is committed to using technology to bring about meaningful improvements in patient care.
Towards Global Impact and Health Equity
Many digital health initiatives aim to achieve global impact and improve health equity. Significant strides can be made toward health equity by ensuring quality digital health technologies are available and trusted, particularly in less privileged countries. This global perspective fosters a more inclusive approach to healthcare innovation, ensuring that advancements benefit a wider population.