Talking HealthTech

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Chris Jones, Founder and Clinical Director at HosPortal, about the evolution of clinical rostering in Australian healthcare, the integration of AI in medical workforce management, and shifts in work-life balance for healthcare practitioners.

The discussion covers how HosPortal is addressing the complex challenges of scheduling across diverse medical craft groups, the impact of digital transformation on hospital operations, and the growing importance of customisable solutions and ongoing user support.

HosPortal has been rebuilt from a clean slate and has roughly doubled in capability, and the software now runs across every state in Australia, covering anaesthesia, emergency departments, radiology, junior medical doctors and radiographers.

Chris explains why the current build focus is junior doctor term placement, a problem most hospitals are still solving with survey forms and spreadsheets, and how the team designs for complexity they have not been told about yet.

The conversation also gets into where AI genuinely earns its place inside clinical software. Chris describes agents that turn a plain-language description of a rostering rule into a working rule, and agents that do the task rather than point users at a help file.

He shares his view that diagnostic radiology will be fully replaced by AI within five years, along with the ten-times-better test he applies to it, and paints a picture of an emergency department avatar that is endlessly patient and never tired.

Underneath all of it sits a point about people. Chris argues that doctors working fewer hours with better supervision is a net good for clinicians and patients alike, and that the real cost of fatigue is doctors who quietly stop caring.

Key Takeaways

🩺 The complexity of clinical rostering is growing, driven by specialist requirements, junior doctor preferences, and a broader focus on work-life balance.

💻 A major rebuild of Hosportal's platform has enabled greater customisation, scalability, and more sophisticated automation across Australian hospitals.

🤖 AI is playing an increasing role in both automating roster construction and making the system easier for end-users to interact with, including the use of natural language agents.

🧠 There has been a cultural shift in healthcare, with greater attention on clinician mental health and safer working hours, positively impacting staff and patient safety.

🌏 The future roadmap for Hosportal includes continued AI integration, product refinement, and expansion beyond Australia into new international markets.

Timestamps

00:00 - Hosportal introduction & background

02:27 - Rostering problems & user experience

04:13 - Shifting work-life balance for doctors

07:17 - Customisation and customer-driven solutions

11:30 - AI features & natural language tools

13:44 - AI's role in the future of healthcare

31:04 - Roadmap and international expansion

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Peter O'Halloran from the Australian Digital Health Agency, and Farhoud Salimi and Dr Monica Trujillo from Telstra Health, about the current state and future of interoperability in Australian healthcare.

The discussion covers why seamless data sharing is crucial, how policy, technology, and consumer expectations are driving change, and the evolving roles of national infrastructure like My Health Record.

The group unpacks how the shift from paper to digital created a new problem, with information locked inside systems built for a single hospital, practice or specialty.

They talk through the real cost of that fragmentation, from repeated tests and retold medical histories to the harm that occurs when clinicians do not have what they need at the point of care.

The episode closes on what success looks like by 2030, including a future where interoperability is no longer a talking point, data simply arrives inside the workflow, and connected care reaches rural and regional Australia as reliably as it does the capital cities.

Key Takeaways

💡 The priority now is not convincing stakeholders of the need for interoperability but implementing practical solutions for data sharing in healthcare

💡 Modernising "classic" or legacy systems is a major challenge, but new platforms are being built with interoperability and patient-centricity at their core

💡 Consumer expectations are rapidly evolving, with an increasing demand for immediate access to health information and digital-enabled care

💡 My Health Record has shifted from being a basic repository to becoming central infrastructure, supporting real-time, secure, and routine data sharing

💡 Incorrect or incomplete health data, particularly when combined with AI, can lead to safety risks, reinforcing the need for better standards and data quality

Timestamps

00:00: Introduction & framing the interoperability challenge

01:09: Evolution and urgency for healthcare data sharing

03:07: Patient impact and consumer stories

08:47: Practical use cases and technology improvements

12:48: Urgency, burning platforms, and risks of inaction

19:02: The role and future of My Health Record

22:52: Interoperability at Telstra Health and industry collaboration

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

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Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Rae Donovan, Chief Clinical Information Officer at e-Health Queensland, Professor Peter Steel, Associate Dean of Digital Health and Informatics at the University of Melbourne and Chief Transformation Officer at Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Anita Ghose, Founder and CEO of inventiveX, at HIC 2026, hosted by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.

Recorded on the sidelines of the conference, the conversation brings together perspectives from frontline clinical practice, academic leadership, and industry innovation, offering a well-rounded look at where Australia's digital health sector is heading.

The discussion covers digital health innovation, advancing clinical AI in Australia, workforce enablement, women in digital leadership, and the ongoing transformation of healthcare through technology-driven collaboration.

The conversation also touches on the gap between technical ambition and everyday clinical reality, including how outdated hospital systems and clunky electronic medical records continue to shape the day-to-day experience of clinicians.

Together, the guests unpack what it takes to modernise ageing hospital systems, build local expertise in clinical AI, and create lasting pathways for women in digital health careers, drawing on real experience from the clinic floor, the university, and the boardroom.

Key Takeaways

💡 Workforce enablement in digital health involves not just technical training, but supporting ongoing learning, retention, and the evolution of clinical workflows with new technologies.

💡 Clinical AI development in Australia needs hubs or ecosystems of excellence to concentrate capabilities and deliver region-wide benefits, rather than isolated innovation.

💡 Women remain underrepresented in tech roles, and programs focused on digital health leadership can bridge gaps through mentoring, networking, and targeted initiatives.

💡 Technology in healthcare must evolve beyond digitising paper processes to provide more intuitive, AI-enabled, and context-aware support for clinicians.

💡 Networks, global connections, and sponsorship are critical for developing future leadership and sustaining momentum in digital health transformation.

Timestamps

00:00 - Peter Birch | Episode introduction and HIC overview

00:33 - Dr. Rae Donovan | Workforce enablement & networking

07:58 - Professor Peter Steel | Clinical AI innovation & hubs

13:42 - Anita Ghose | Women in Digital Health Leadership Program

19:54 - Anita Ghose | Mentoring and legacy networks

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:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

Talking HealthTech (THT) is Australia's leading media company for health tech conversations, connecting decision-makers, innovators and doers across the healthcare industry.

Hosted by Peter Birch, our weekly podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in healthcare innovation from around the world. Alongside the show, we run a newsletter, active social channels and a comprehensive glossary of digital health terms, so you've got one place to stay across the industry.

*THT+ Community*

Our safe space for the doers and builders in health tech to connect, learn and grow. Members get access to our community platform, live online meetups, exclusive content, partner discounts and other member-only benefits. Join at talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

*THT Productions*

Our production arm helps healthcare organisations tell stories that spark real change, through customer testimonials, product showcases, workflow explainers and documentaries.

*Company Partnerships*

Want to get your organisation in front of the health tech community? Our partnership tiers include a feature podcast episode, directory listing, community seats and more. See what's included: talkinghealthtech.com/partners

*About Pete*

Peter Birch has spent his career in healthcare operations, from running GP clinics and global medical assistance centres to being first hire at multiple health tech startups. He now sits on the boards of industry groups and health tech companies, bringing that experience into every conversation on the show.

Timestamps:

0:00 Welcome to Talking HealthTech - podcast, newsletter, social and glossary

0:22 THT+ Community: our space for health tech doers and builders

0:41 THT Productions: video storytelling for healthcare

1:03 About Pete: from GP clinics to health tech startups

1:32 Real conversations that improve patient outcomes

1:47 Subscribe, follow and join the newsletter

🔗 Website: talkinghealthtech.com

🔗 Media kit: talkinghealthtech.com/mediakit

🔗 Join THT+ Community: talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

🔗 Partner with us: talkinghealthtech.com/partners

#HealthTech #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcarePodcast #HealthTechAustralia

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Manuel Pérez Vallina, former CIO in the Spanish health system, Femi Ladega, Group Chief Digital Officer at Dedalus, and Dr Vinod Seetharaman, Chief Medical Officer for Dedalus in Australia and New Zealand.

The discussion covers the evolution of hospital command centres, the shift from using dashboards for retrospective data towards enabling proactive, real-time operational decisions, and how these changes impact clinical workflows and patient outcomes across different health systems.

Recorded live, the conversation draws on experience building one of Spain's first hospital command centres alongside lessons from health systems in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The panel unpacks why familiar pressures such as underused operating theatres, growing waiting lists and bed shortages appear so consistently across borders, and what separates a command centre from a wall of screens.

Along the way, they examine the four principles that determine whether the model delivers real change, the cultural and governance work that sits behind the technology, the role artificial intelligence can play in filtering meaningful signals, and the practical first steps for organisations weighing up where to begin.

Key Takeaways

🚑 Hospital command centres enable real-time, actionable insights beyond traditional dashboards, improving operational efficiency and patient care.

🛠️ Implementing command centre solutions requires aligning technology, organisational culture, and governance to drive sustained change.

📊 Demonstrating value and securing investment means clearly defining the use case, limiting initial project scope, and engaging stakeholders early.

⚡ Effective change management and clinician engagement are crucial for successful adoption and maximising impact.

🌐 Challenges and solutions discussed are common globally, but must be tailored to local healthcare system maturity and needs.

Timestamps

00:00 - Episode introduction & topic overview

03:42 - Manuel Pérez Vallina on Spain’s command centre journey

05:55 - Femi Ladega: Global perspectives and data orchestration

08:29 - Dr Vinod Seetharaman on capacity management challenges

10:26 - Command centres vs. dashboards

19:02 - Clinical benefits and flow management

22:13 - Stakeholder engagement and return on investment

32:07 - Real-world impacts and cascading benefits

39:48 - Implementation challenges and change management

48:59 - Integrating AI, primary care, and data governance

53:45 - Final advice for hospital 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:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Steve Saunders, Healthcare Principle at RingCentral, about what is really at stake for Australian healthcare organisations still running on legacy phone systems and why the move to cloud-based communications is becoming increasingly urgent.

They cover the risks of relying on ageing PABX infrastructure, the barriers that slow down migration decisions and how a modular, evolutionary approach to modernisation can reduce risk and build confidence across an organisation.

The conversation also gets into the role of AI and automation in transforming how healthcare manages calls, appointments and patient interactions, as well as the critical importance of data sovereignty, privacy and security when moving to cloud-based platforms.

Steve shares why voice remains the most important communication channel in healthcare, why general-purpose tools are not built for clinical environments, and what healthcare leaders should look for when choosing a long-term technology partner rather than a one-off supplier.

For more information check out RingCentral at www.talkinghealthtech.com/ringcentral

Have a question about this episode? Reach out directly to Steve:

Steve Saunders

Healthcare Principle | RingCentral

📞 +61-2-9157-6831

✉️ [email protected]

Key Takeaways

📞 Voice communication remains the number one application in healthcare, with unique requirements compared to other sectors.

☁️ Healthcare is at a crossroads, moving away from legacy on-premise PABX phone systems towards resilient, cloud-based communications platforms.

🤖 AI tools are being used for pre-interaction triage, live transcription, translation, and post-call analytics to improve efficiency and patient experience.

🛡 Data sovereignty and security are top priorities, with strict compliance with Australian regulations and onshore data processing for AI.

🔄 Major barriers for adoption are fear of change and complacency, not just competition from other vendors.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction & guest background

00:37 - Why voice is critical in healthcare

03:41 - Unique challenges for healthcare phone systems

07:31 - Transitioning from legacy to cloud

11:25 - AI & efficiency in communications

16:25 - Data sovereignty & security

18:39 - Industry landscape & barriers to change

22:09 - Advice for healthcare providers

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:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Madhu Sasidhar, CEO and President of Apollo Hospitals, Luciano Bristia, Asia Pacific Business Lead at InterSystems, and Kym Chua, Executive Director of Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.

The discussion covers healthcare system challenges, digital transformation, AI adoption, workforce shortages, regional collaboration, and what it takes to drive innovation across Asia-Pacific health sectors.

The conversation explores how AI is easing pressure on clinicians, from assisting radiologists with scans to helping nurses pull up patient information faster.

It also touches on the urban and rural divide in access to care, Indonesia's push for a unified national health record, the importance of adapting solutions to local markets rather than adopting them outright, and how sustainability is shaping infrastructure decisions across the region.

This episode was recorded during Smart Health Asia in Singapore, an event that brought together over 3,000 participants from 18 countries.

It features interviews and observations captured during the event, highlighting perspectives from senior leaders, technology providers, and event organisers.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Access to healthcare and technology is a significant challenge in India and Southeast Asia, with urban-rural divides and workforce shortages affecting service delivery.

🤖 AI and digital technologies are being leveraged for efficiency gains, assisting with diagnostics (radiology, stroke, colonoscopy) and reducing clinician workload.

🌏 Regional health challenges and solutions differ greatly; mature markets like Australia and Japan contrast with fast-growing, young populations in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

💡 Collaboration across healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology vendors is seen as essential for scalable, effective innovation.

🔥 Initiatives like Indonesia's "Satu Sehat" (One Health) aim to create nationwide health records, especially targeting preventive care as a strategy for future public health management.

Timestamps

00:00 - Event Introduction: Smart Health Asia

00:48 - Madhu Sasidhar, CEO Apollo Hospitals

08:23 - Luciano Bristia, InterSystems, Asia Pacific

23:02 - Kym Chua, Event Organiser and Executive Director, Messe Berlin Asia Pacific

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:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jayden Rogers (CEO, Linear Clinical Research), Dr Stacie Calad-Thomson (Business Development Lead, Nvidia for Pharma Labs and Manufacturing), Arjun Bhat (Co-Founder, Clinrol), and Tran Le (General Manager, Hippocratic AI).

The conversations cover the changing landscape of clinical trials and drug discovery, the growing role of AI in patient recruitment and drug development, and innovations in technology and operational efficiency in life sciences.

The discussion covers why Australia has become an attractive destination for global clinical trials, from its regulatory environment and world-class clinicians through to the integrated networks that help international sponsors find the right partners.

It also looks at the practical realities of running a trial site, where regulatory approvals, staffing, patient engagement, and sensitive data all need to be managed at once, and how purpose-built platforms are taking on the repetitive work so research teams can focus on patient care.

This episode was recorded during the BIO International Convention in San Diego, featuring conversations with scientists, founders, investors, and healthcare decision-makers addressing challenges and opportunities across the biotech sector.

Key Takeaways

🧬 AI and automation are transforming clinical trial recruitment, streamlining patient matching, eligibility screening, and follow-up tasks

🚀 Australia’s reputation for clinical trials continues to grow, supported by a strong regulatory environment and quality healthcare ecosystem

💡 Open source tools and AI models are making computational drug discovery more accessible for non-specialists in science and medicine

🧑‍⚕️ Technology advancements allow clinicians and trial sites to focus more on patient care by reducing manual and repetitive efforts

🔗 Collaboration across pharma, biotechs, technology providers, and regulators is essential to tackle operational bottlenecks and accelerate drug development

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction

01:07 - Jayden Rogers, CEO, Linear Clinical Research

08:25 - Dr Stacie Calad-Thomson, Business Development, NVIDIA

17:55 - Arjun Bhat, Co-Founder, Clinrol

26:52 - Tran Le, General Manager of Life Sciences, Hippocratic AI

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:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Robyn Birch about their experiences using the Oura Ring 4, exploring how this wearable device fits into the broader clinical ecosystem.

The conversation focuses on the practicalities and implications of using wearables for health monitoring, such as bringing data into clinical consultations, comparing its ongoing data with clinical-grade tools, and considering the everyday healthcare impact for consumers and clinicians.

After six months of daily wear, Peter and Robyn share what the ring got right, where it fell short, and the moments the data prompted real action, including a GP visit that led to a formal sleep study.

They also discuss the scepticism patients can face when bringing consumer device data to their doctor, the role of trends and baselines over exact numbers, and what wearables are revealing about areas like sleep, recovery and women's health.

Key Takeaways

🟢 Wearables like the Oura Ring are increasingly used to support meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals

🟢 Data trends from wearables are more useful than one-off readings for both consumers and clinicians

🟢 Ongoing wearable monitoring complements, but does not replace, clinical grade diagnostic tools like sleep studies

🟢 Presenting continuous wearable health data can help drive further medical investigation when necessary

🟢 Wearable data is becoming more accepted by clinicians, helping patients become proactive participants in their health

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction & Oura Ring overview

02:27 - Wearables in clinical conversations

04:05 - Data trends vs. one-off readings

05:07 - Wearable data leading to clinical action

09:35 - Clinical sleep study vs. wearable metrics

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:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Monica Trujillo, Chief Health and Risk Officer, and Farhoud Salimi, Chief Technology Officer, both from Telstra Health.

The discussion covers the ongoing fragmentation of Australia's healthcare system, the challenge of integrating diverse legacy systems and the announcement of Telstra Health's new platform, Corus™, a unified care intelligence ecosystem built in partnership with Snowflake, Smile Digital Health and Salesforce.

Peter, Monica and Farhoud explore how modern cloud architecture, interoperability standards, cybersecurity and AI are being brought together to support seamless healthcare delivery, from the data spine that unifies patient records through to curated AI agents designed to ease clinical workflows.

They also unpack the shift in thinking from connected care to care connected, keeping the moment of care at the centre with the technology built around it.

The episode was recorded live at the Digital Health Festival 2026 in Melbourne, part of a series of episodes captured at the event, where more than 8,000 health leaders, clinicians and innovators gathered to explore what's next for the sector, and brings together perspectives from both technology and clinical leadership on what meaningful digital change in health really takes.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Healthcare in Australia is made up of multiple independent, legacy systems, rather than a single integrated system

🕸️ Integration challenges stem from varied data standards, terminology, and the need for high data reliability

🌐 The new Corus™ platform combines modern interoperability standards (FHIR), a robust data spine, and partnerships with technology providers like Snowflake, Smile Digital Health, and Salesforce

🔒 Cybersecurity and clinical governance are crucial in developing safe, secure, and trusted digital health solutions

👩‍⚕️ Corus™ aims to empower both patients and clinicians by enabling more efficient workflows, seamless data access, and self-management, supporting a shift toward preventative and proactive healthcare

Timestamps

00:00 — Episode introduction and guest intros

01:48 — Why healthcare remains fragmented

03:47 — Technology challenges integrating systems

04:15 — Modernisation and standards aligning

05:12 — Corus™ platform announcement

07:09 — What Corus™ enables and its architecture

10:00 — The "data spine" explained

11:06 — AI integration and customisation

13:17 — Managing cybersecurity and clinical governance

15:04 — What success looks like for Corus™

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:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.