The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) has awarded Telstra Health the contract to lead the transformation of the My Health Record system, marking a significant milestone in the nation's digital health journey.
Supported by key partners, Smile Digital Health and Leidos Australia, and working with the Agency, Telstra Health will spearhead efforts to deliver real-time, interoperable health solutions that empower Australian healthcare consumers and deliver key information to the healthcare providers who support them.
Australia's My Health Record system now houses more than 1.8 billion clinical documents which have been uploaded by healthcare providers like hospitals, pathologists and specialists, serving as a vital national asset.
However, as demand for real-time, interoperable health data soars - especially with the recent surge in document sharing driven by the Sharing by Default legislation - the system's reliance on Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) can no longer fully support the ease of integration needed, including across emerging healthcare technologies. Healthcare providers often encounter obstacles in extracting specific, actionable data from CDA documents, leading to inefficiencies at the point of care and hampering the seamless flow of information between systems.
As more Australians access and contribute to their health records, the time is now for innovating and updating the data architecture that supports health information sharing and future-proofing the nation's healthcare infrastructure.
Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole PSM noted the significant increase in consumer demand, highlighted by a more than 60% increase in views of information like pathology and diagnostic imaging reports in My Health Record in the past year alone.
Reflecting on this momentum, Ms Cattermole said: "This announcement follows a rigorous selection process and recognises Telstra Health's expertise and innovative approach to building a future-ready health data infrastructure for all Australians. The collaboration with Telstra Health will lay the foundation for a more efficient healthcare ecosystem that drives a healthier future for all Australians.
"We look forward to working with Telstra Health and its partners, Smile Digital Health and Leidos Australia, to deliver the digital health products and services Australia needs."
Telstra Health Managing Director Elizabeth Koff AM said they were looking forward to working with the Agency to advance the modernisation of national digital health infrastructure.
"Through this collaboration, we are enhancing connectivity and secure data exchange, supporting seamless integration across care teams," Ms Koff said. "The unified health data platform, built natively on FHIR® standards, will play a key role in enabling real-time health information sharing for improving patient outcomes and enhancing the care journey.
"At Telstra Health we know that care knows no boundaries. Together, with the Agency and our partners, Smile Digital Health and Leidos Australia, we are driving the future of connected healthcare, reinforcing our commitment to delivering a trusted, data-powered ecosystem that supports a more connected and sustainable health system for all Australians."
Telstra Health's tender response was supported by Smile Digital Health, which has a successful track record of FHIR enablement in the Canadian health system and US healthcare industry.
Smile Digital Health CEO Duncan Weatherston highlights his company's ongoing collaboration with Telstra Health to deliver its industry-leading FHIR-native Health Data Platform.
"The Australian Digital Health Agency's leadership in modernising My Health Record - anchored in a FHIR-native approach - demonstrates a strong strategic vision for future-proofing national infrastructure and delivering better care outcomes at scale; Smile Digital Health is proud to support that vision along with our long-standing partner Telstra Health," Mr Weatherston said.
Leidos Australia Chief Executive Paul Chase said the company has a strong history of collaboration with Telstra Health, as well as delivering major health system integration projects, including the world's largest electronic medical record system deployment for the US Department of Defense and working locally to deploy and integrate Telstra Health's digital pharmacy solutions.
"This partnership demonstrates our combined capability to deliver large-scale, complex digital health projects across various domains," Mr Chase said.
This contract is an integral step forward in the Agency's transformation agenda for national digital health infrastructure, forging a new era of digital health where all Australians have access to the information they need, when and where they need it.
What is FHIR®?
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®) is an international standard established by HL7® for the electronic exchange of healthcare information. FHIR facilitates interoperability among disparate health systems by organising health data into modular components known as "resources", which can be readily accessed, modified and shared via web technologies. Using widely adopted internet protocols, FHIR enhances the integration of health data across various platforms, thereby supporting both clinical and administrative functions. Its design prioritises flexibility and scalability, positioning FHIR as a fundamental tool for the modernisation of healthcare infrastructure and the enhancement of health outcomes for both providers and consumers.
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