Talking HealthTech

This is a special bonus episode of the Talking Healthtech podcast featuring one of the shows in our Podcast Network called MSIA - The Good Tech Podcast.In this episode of the MSIA - The Good Tech Podcast, we speak with Gerard Stevens from Webster Care, Dr Ben Hurst from HotDoc, Dr Frank Pyefinch and Lorraine Pyefinch from Best Practice, and Jenny O’Neil from Episoft about the journeys of industry founders, inventors, and stars who have shaped the landscape of Australian health technology.Covering the personal stories behind the development of well-known products such as the Webster Pack, HotDoc, Best Practice, and Episoft. Each guest shares the inspiration that led to their innovations, challenges faced during their development, and the ongoing impact of their work within healthcare. Exploring topics in creating practical technology for medication management, driving efficiency in clinical settings, the role of practitioner founders in product success, interoperability, and advice for new entrants to the sector. Focusing on real-world problems, the iterative nature of health tech innovation, and the critical need to address evolving requirements in the industry.Key Takeaways:The Webster Pack was developed to improve medication compliance and patient independence, now widely recognised in aged care and community settings.HotDoc enables GPs to reduce administrative burden and focus on quality patient care, offering digital solutions for bookings and patient engagement.Best Practice originated from the direct needs of clinicians and grew through continuous feedback, practical innovation, and strong industry standards.Founders with clinical backgrounds are well-placed to identify practical problems and build relevant solutions, as demonstrated by Best Practice and Episoft.Addressing interoperability and standardisation (such as adopting FHIR) is critical for efficiency and future-proofing industry partnerships.The MSIA Good Tech Podcast responds to hot health topics through expert commentary with practical working responses from industry. Each episode brings you expert commentary and practical insights from industry leaders and professionals. The MSIA addresses pressing health topics and offering tangible solutions. Our goal is to spotlight challenges, bridge gaps, and uncover opportunities that enhance healthcare standards. Whether you're a professional within health service delivery or committed to staying abreast of best practices in Australia, join us for a deep dive into critical issues like AI, aged care, interoperability, primary health care tools and more. With real-life case studies, we demonstrate how cutting-edge technology is transforming healthcare, one solution at a time.This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Max Mollenkopf, Dr Michael Bonning, and Dr Nicole Sleeman at GP25, the annual conference for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in Brisbane.The episode covers the changing landscape of general practice in Australia, with a focus on the involvement of private health insurers in primary care, recent bulk billing changes, the environmental impact of healthcare, and the role of artificial intelligence.This episode was recorded during GP25 in Brisbane, the largest national gathering dedicated to general practice, organised by RACGP.Key Takeaways🌱 The increasing presence of private health insurers in primary care raises questions about patient outcomes, funding models, and the viability of independent clinics.💸 Changes to bulk billing are shifting the financial landscape for GPs, with government policy aiming to relieve cost-of-living pressures for patients but introducing new considerations for clinic owners.🌏 Healthcare contributes significantly to carbon emissions in Australia, and there are opportunities to decarbonise the sector by focusing on prevention, reducing low-value care, and adopting low-carbon options in clinical practice.🤝 The general practice sector must define and advocate for its core strengths amidst disruption by corporate interests and technology, particularly the integration of AI in supporting clinical decision making.🚦 Clinicians and clinic owners can take actionable steps, such as joining advocacy groups, reviewing care practices, and engaging in preventative health, to respond proactively to these sector changes.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction01:02 – Dr Max Mollenkopf06:43 – Dr Michael Bonning16:33 – Dr Nicole SleemanCheck 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 might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet-ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information, visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with technology consultant, Dr Shane Black, and Associate Professor Amina Tariq and Professor Steven McPhail from The Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).The discussion covers the current wave of artificial intelligence in healthcare, exploring its real-world implementation, governance, workforce readiness, and how clinicians and technologists can collaborate effectively.The guests share their experience and perspectives on digital health transformation, the challenges of adopting new technologies, and the evolving role of AI in Australian healthcare.They also dive into practical examples of AI in action, from AI-powered scribes easing administrative burdens to tools that support clinical decision-making.The episode highlights the importance of human-centred design, adaptive governance, and building trust among clinicians and patients.Listeners will gain insight into how AI is being thoughtfully integrated into Australian healthcare, balancing innovation with safety, workforce needs, and patient outcomes.Key Takeaways✨ AI adoption happens in waves, moving from hype to normalisation, requiring realistic expectations and robust capability building🧠 Effective governance in healthcare doesn’t have to slow innovation; adaptive frameworks can support safe and agile implementation💬 Human factors and real-world workflows are critical when designing and implementing healthcare technology solutions🤝 Workforce readiness and co-design, embedding digital health concepts into clinical education and involving clinicians in design, leads to better outcomes⚡ AI tools are increasingly seen as essential infrastructure, with growing clinician and patient comfort, but trust and ongoing usability remain crucialTimestamps00:00 – Introductions and overview of panellist backgrounds05:18 – Is the AI bubble in healthcare about to burst, or just mature?07:59 – Differences in risk tolerance between tech and health, and how that affects adoption10:33 – Sustainability and the risk of “serial piloters” in healthcare AI13:22 – Sentiment toward AI in healthcare vs other industries18:08 – How real-world workflows affect technology adoption20:02 – Growing public and healthcare professional awareness and trust in AI tools21:53 – Governance strategies and balancing safety with speed25:22 – The need for responsive, risk-tiered governance frameworks28:02 – AI’s place in healthcare: from a “bubble” to essential infrastructure30:43 – Role of flexibility and user choice in AI adoption32:03 – Trust, augmentation vs automation, and failed AI pilots34:47 – Real use cases: AI scribes and clinician-patient interaction36:34 – Building meaningful workforce readiness for AI38:08 – Embedding digital health and AI literacy in clinical training43:07 – Rethinking workforce composition to support technology adoption44:23 – Closing remarks and further resourcesCheck 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 might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet-ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information, visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dan Wijeratne from Modern Innovations about the evolving landscape of billing and operational efficiency in Australian primary care clinics.They discuss the recent and upcoming changes to Medicare bulk billing incentives, the challenges faced by general practices in adapting to shifting business models, and how tools like MyGPMPtool are helping clinics manage chronic disease care more effectively.The conversation also explores the broader impact of technology on patient experience and clinic sustainability. Listeners will learn how digital tools can streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and support coordinated chronic disease management, allowing practices to deliver higher-quality care while maintaining financial viability. The discussion highlights practical strategies for both bulk billing and mixed billing clinics to adapt to policy changes and remain resilient in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.Key Takeaways🔄 The shift between bulk billing and mixed billing models is having a significant impact on clinic operations, influenced by new Medicare incentives and changing patient demographics.📝 Effective chronic disease management (CDM) relies heavily on operational efficiency and the adoption of digital tools to streamline care planning, eligibility tracking, and patient engagement.👩‍⚕️ Clinics are facing challenges in workforce adaptation, particularly in redistributing CDM-related workflows between nurses and GPs as expectations and demands increase.⏱️ Simple digital process improvements, such as removing paperwork and automating reminders, can result in substantial time and cost savings for clinics.📈 Modern Innovations is developing new CRM and AI features within MyGPMPtool to further support practice efficiency, patient engagement, and care continuity, including upcoming modules for aged care and advanced patient segmentation.Timestamps:00:00:00 – Introduction and overview of MyGPMP tool with Dan Wijeratne00:00:43 – Differences between acute and chronic disease management in general practice00:01:54 – Understanding Medicare item numbers and billing for CDM services00:03:04 – Changes to CDM workflows post-1 July and impacts on GPs00:05:22 – How technology addresses administrative burdens and inefficiencies in care planning00:07:05 – Key features of MyGPMP tool and use of AI for workflow optimisation00:08:44 – The benefits of streamlined CDM processes for patient outcomes00:10:24 – Importance of collaborative, cloud-based solutions for multidisciplinary care00:11:21 – Current priorities and opportunities for GPs in 2025, and market trends00:13:30 – The future of healthcare technology, CRM systems, and patient engagementCheck 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 might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet-ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information, visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Ben Hurst, CEO of HotDoc, about evolving patient engagement, clinic efficiency, compliance burdens, and the future of hybrid healthcare delivery in Australia.The conversation explores how HotDoc supports GPs and medical centres with digital tools to automate administrative processes, balance regulatory changes, offer flexible work arrangements, and improve access to care for patients in an increasingly virtual environment.The discussion also highlights the growing pressures on general practice, including workforce shortages, rising patient demand, and competition from virtual-only providers and digital health apps.Listeners will gain insight into how clinics can leverage technology to streamline workflows, capture patient information more effectively, and deliver personalised care, all while supporting doctors in managing burnout and maintaining work-life balance.This episode offers practical perspectives for GPs, practice managers, and healthtech innovators looking to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of primary care.Key Takeaways🩺 The burden of compliance and administrative changes, such as payroll regulations and MyMedicare requirements, creates significant process challenges for GP clinics.⚙️ Automating tasks like recalls, reminders, and bulk-billing consent can improve efficiency and free up time for doctors to focus on clinical care.🌐 The rise of virtual healthcare and online consults is changing patient expectations, with convenience and accessibility taking priority, leading clinics to adapt with solutions like asynchronous quick consults and telehealth on demand.👨‍⚕️ Flexibility for doctors, including hybrid and virtual care models, is crucial to address burnout and ensure sustainable practice amid an impending GP shortage.🔍 Capturing patient intent, matching them with specialised providers, and leveraging technology to serve up relevant information are opportunities for further innovation in patient care pathways.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction and HotDoc’s mission01:04 – 13 years of HotDoc and supporting GPs with administration02:11 – Patient engagement and streamlining workflows03:32 – Compliance challenges: MyMedicare, assignment of benefit04:38 – GP clinic operations and shifting processes06:00 – Impact of regulatory changes on clinic efficiency08:00 – Competition from virtual providers and patient expectations10:03 – Quick consults, asynchronous care, and responding to convenience demands14:05 – GP workforce shortages, burnout, and capacity challenges16:42 – Flexibility in GP work patterns and reducing burnout18:53 – Benefits of virtual care for information capture20:08 – Personalised intent-based patient matching and technology’s role24:06 – Clinics’ priorities for 2025: automation, differentiation, sub-specialisation, and hybrid-care models27:47 – Closing thoughts and future priorities for HotDocCheck 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 might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet-ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information, visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus