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PULSE, the podcast, produced by Pulse+IT and hosted by digital health legends Louise Schaper and George Margelis, is an enlightening, entertaining look at global digital health trends and current debates with our hosts’ deep takes on all the latest news in digital health.

PULSE+IT


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 1m AVG DURATION
    • 27 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from PULSE

    Aussie Govt Updates, Silicon Valley, & Mother of FemTech Ida Tin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 79:05


    George and Louise dive into a roundup from the Australian Digital Health Festival, key government presentations and reports from the Commonwealth, Victoria and New South WalesWe cover some of the big stories coming out of Silicon Valley – there's a lot to talk about!Plus we chat with the Queen herself, Mother of FemTech, Ida Tin on “women's health as societal infrastructure”Connect with Ida on LinkedIn | Join the Book WaitlistResources:Halle Tecco on the Growth-Stage Cliff Plaguing Women's Health Startups LinkJohn Carreyrou's book Bad Blood, Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley StartupVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Shifting populations & shifting priorities, Part 2 with demographer legend Bernard Salt AM

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 73:18


    On the show today is part 2 of George and Louise's talk with Bernard Salt AM, Founder of The Demographics Group. They have a conversation on shifting populations, shifting priorities and what that means for the health sector. Australia's election delivers a result no pundits foresaw.The FDA is mandating the use of AI for their scientific reviews. What could this mean for stakeholders?Friend of Pulse Rachael Dunscombe suggests healthcare's complexity means that for AI governance to be successful we need to adopt principles espoused by cybernetics guru Stafford Beer in the 1950s.UK Q1 VC funding report stats are in and the results are not what you'd expect.George & Louise give a run-through of the 6 Megatrends impacting the health sector, according to a new report by NSW Health and CSIRO.Connect with Bernard on LinkedIn | Instagram | The Demographics GroupResources:What is Digital Health? Whitepaper by David Rowlands LinkHealth Megatrends Report, NSW Health & CSIRO LinkCall for Disclosure when using AI for patient comms LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Government announces virtual-first telehealth service, and Part 1 of our extended chat with demographer legend Bernard Salt AM

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 68:09


    Listen for your chance to go the Digital Health Festival on us – with thanks to the DHF team. #Muchlove

    Getting rid of the stupid stuff in healthcare. Guest: Jill Tomlinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 70:51


    On the show today George and Louise talk with AMA Victoria President Dr Jillian Tomlinson on the GROSS initiative to get rid of stupid stuff like waste and duplication in healthcare.Can AI help researchers advance our understanding of dementia and potentially prevention, delay and treatment?The worlds of consumer tech and medical grade tech are merging. George and Louise discuss the opportunities and implications of this with examples of the femtech pregnancy research Oura Ring is embarking on, the EpiWatch app for seizure monitoring.What does the future hold for the health app ecosystem, given Apple's Mulberry project?What does the closure of NHS England mean for the digital health workforce? George and Louise discuss the announcement of the formation of the Health Data Research Service. Should other jurisdictions also start to think of health data as a national asset?Connect with Jillian on LinkedInResources:Learn more about GROSS and sign the petition: LinkANDHealth's Rising Giant Report: LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Adoption and scale requires technical + service + business model innovation, with Guest: Janette Hughes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 76:17


    Guest of Pulse is Janette Hughes, Director of Planning and Performance at Scotland's Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI). Janette joins our hosts to discuss personal data stores – giving patients not just access but putting them in control over their own data.Bill Gates is predicting AI will replace doctors. Do George and Louise agree with him?The liquidators have moved into 23andMe and millions of customers are rushing to delete their data. What are the lessons learned on protecting personal health data from the personal genomics company's collapse?Research shows 1 in 5 Australians skip specialist appointments due to cost concerns. Will the Australian Health Minister mandating that 11,000 medical specialists are transparent with their fees help?A new meta-analysis of 83 studies shows AI and doctors perform similarly in diagnosis. Bu George wants the comparisons to stop already!The cost of not using AI in healthcare. Will we soon see arguments, regulations and legislation mandating the use of AI in the name of patient safety?Connect with Janette on LinkedInResources:Allied health $10K grant LinkNature Digital Medicine paper AI vs Drs LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Bringing Joy Back to Medicine, with Guest: Dr Karen DeSalvo

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 72:22


    Bringing you Part 2 of our chat with Dr Karen DeSalvo, Chief Health Officer at Google. We cover designing systems that align with the needs of clinicians and patients; the sustainable development goals and preventative health, use cases for AI in public health, resources for healthcare start-ups and others.Follow Karen on LinkedIn LinkGeorge has just wrapped up the ECH Alliance conference in Barcelona, and the IT in Aged Care Conference in Melbourne. Louise is in London where everyone is talking about NHS England getting ‘doged'.Telemedicine from 40,000 feet, coming to an Emirates flight near you soon.OECD Health System strategies review – who came out on top?Advanced analytics for chronic diseaseAnd, allied digital health is so hot right now.Google Resources:AI in Action: Accelerating Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals LinkTransforming Public Health Practice with GenAI. Health Affairs LinkGoogle Open Health Stack LinkGoogle for StartUps Growth Academy LinkThe Keyword Blog: AI and Health collection LinkThe Check Up with Google Health LinkOther links:National eHealth strategies: a comparative study of nine OECD health systems LinkMulti-omics approaches for understanding gene-environment interactions in noncommunicable diseases: techniques, translation, and equity issues LinkAustralian Aged Care Data Landscape Report LinkOne London Framework for AI Implementation LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    When a Nobel Prize is only one of your achievements. Guest: Dr Karen DeSalvo

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 60:42


    Google's Impact on Health Report 2025 reveals the company's extensive influence on global digital health, including their Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold 2 AI system. The value of watches that detect falls and raises the alarm just got a significant upgrade with Google receiving FDA clearance for "loss of pulse detection" technology for wearables that can identify sudden cardiac arrest signs remotely. New Australian study finds social media influencers driving demand for unnecessary health tests with limited clinical evidence. Commercialisation, misinformation and the rise in health equity gaps. Reporting by Pulse+IT. Tina Purnat's BMJ Opinion Piece is a must read for those interested in the proliferation of misinformationWas Chris Longhurst right years earlier than he predicted – the US has proposed legislation that would classify AI as a "practitioner licensed by law" with prescription capabilities, raising significant ethical and regulatory questions. The UK is exploring implementation of a single digital patient record system across health and social care, promising better continuity but facing logistical challenges. Will they pull this off?Check out the Global Digital Health Partnership's digital health repository LinkOur guest of Pulse is Dr Karen DeSalvo, Chief Health Officer at Google. Part 1 of our chat covers Karen's impressive career trajectory and personal motivations, AI, and how Google is focused on getting correct health information into the hands of everybody. Follow Karen on LinkedIn LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Apple Cider Vinegar & Misinformation, Guest: Tina Purnat

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 68:46


    Disinformation and misinformation is the topic of the moment – join George and Louise as they discuss these issues with Dr Tina Punat, consultant in global health and digital public health (ex-WHO).Find Tina at her website on LinkedIn and say hello when she visits Australia in June for the Communicable Diseases & Immunisation ConferenceWe also celebrate Australia's Share by Default Legislation being passed by parliament and the Act coming into play. Yay!An update from New Zealand – will a law suite against the government save Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora's Data and Digital Directorate?We round up the state of investor funding for start-ups in Australia and the US.Resource LinksDr Purnat in the BMJ LinkKara Swisher: Burn Book LinkFuture AI International Consensus BMJ LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    The commoditisation of AI is upon us! & Part 2 of our chat on global health with guest Dr Alain Labrique, WHO

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 72:32


    So it turns out that 2 weeks is a long time in the world of AI. Louise and George break down a heap of key stories and developments. AI is quickly becoming a commodity, but it will still be some time before it becomes old news. The European Health Data Space legislation is coming into force. What does that mean for the health sector, clinicians and citizens throughout Europe?And we bring you part 2 of our chat with special guest of Pulse, Dr Alain Labrique, Director for the Department of Digital Health and Innovation at the World Health Organization for an exploration of the transformative role of digital health on a global scale.Follow Alain on LinkedInResource Links:European Health Data Space Legislation Pulse+ITNew Zealand's Public Service AI Framework Pulse+ITPatientSeek built on DeepSeek Pulse+ITOpenNotes Guidelines for Patient-Centered Documentation in the Era of Open Notes LinkJAMA+AI LinkNEJM+AI LinkThe Lancet Digital Health LinkNature LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Spiders, viruses & proteins get the AI treatment and Global Digital Health with guest Dr Alain Labrique, WHO

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 72:36


    In this episode, hosts Louise Schaper and George Margelis dive into the latest advancements in health and biomedical sciences, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming our understanding of viruses, proteins, and more. Key stories include AI-driven viral evolution predictions, groundbreaking research on the human proteome-phenome atlas, and the role of AI in designing life-saving antivenoms.The hosts also discuss global telehealth developments, patient engagement strategies, and highlight the inherent challenges of direct-to-consumer health tests. Special guest of Pulse is Dr Alain Labrique, Director for the Department of Digital Health and Innovation at the World Health Organization for an exploration of the transformative role of digital health on a global scale.Follow Alain on LinkedInResource Links:Plasma Proteome atlas LinkAI and virus evolution LinkAi and anti-venom LinkChristchurch telehealth pilot LinkAI and predicting breast cancer LinkAction Plan for the Digital Patient have LinkDirect to consumer tests LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Pulse+IT's Year in Review Issue. 2024, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 34:50


    Join Louise and George as they run through some of the hot stories in the Australian and New Zealand health sector this year.01:31 Virtual Care and Telehealth15:08 The biggest topic of the year - AI24:40 New Zealand Year in ReviewReferences for Pulse+IT 2024 Year in Review:Part OnePart TwoPart ThreePart FourNew Zealand Year in ReviewVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Pulse+IT's Year in Review Issue. 2024, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 63:20


    Join Louise and George as they run through some of the hot stories in the Australian and New Zealand health sector this year.04:16 2024 Pulse+IT Year in Review07:02 Digital Front Doors & EMRs18:50 Business Deals & Telstra Health23:32 Government in Action44:36 Cybersecurity Stuff Ups49:00 Aged Care InnovationReferences for Pulse+IT 2024 Year in Review:Part OnePart TwoPart ThreePart FourNew Zealand Year in ReviewVisit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Role of AI in health insurance: a battle of good vs evil? Guest: Mark Brommeyer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 68:36


    Guest Co-Host: Dr Michael Bainbridge George is on holiday so joining Louise at the mic this episode is Michael Bainbridge, Clinical Architect for Leidos Australia.Follow Michael Bainbridge on LinkedInSpecial Guest: Mark Brommeyer Mark Brommeyer shares insights from his research on overcoming organisational barriers to digital transformation, focusing on practical strategies for health service managers.Follow Mark Brommeyer on LinkedInThe Role of AI in Health Insurance Louise and Michael explore the ethical and operational challenges of AI in the insurance sector, reflecting on the controversial use of AI to deny claims and the broader implications for health systems.PatientsLikeMe Launches AI Assistant Ella PatientsLikeMe, a leading patient community platform, developed an AI assistant focused on women's health, highlighting the growing trend of personalised digital health tools and femtech opportunities.Political Shifts in Ireland Impact Digital Health The team discusses the loss of Ireland's Health Minister and its potential to disrupt the nation's digital health momentum.Collaboration in Irish HealthTech Ireland's new agreement between the Health Service Executive and HealthTech Ireland is set to enhance innovation, with lessons for global health tech integration and collaboration.NHS Marketplace: A Digital Revolution? The UK's NHS Marketplace promises to streamline app development and foster innovation. Will it deliver on governance, interoperability, innovation and start-ups?Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    The Ouroboros Effect: How AI Threatens Human Intellect. Guest: Prof Blackford Middleton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 65:32


    Prof Blackford Middleton joins us in the PulsePod studio to discuss his philosophising on the intersection of AI and healthcare, and his new publication The Ouroboros Effect: How AI Threatens Human Intellect. LinkIn this episode of Pulse, Louise and George explore the hottest topics in digital health, from groundbreaking AI diagnosis studies to the collapse of a high-profile health startup, and news from UK, AU and NZ. Here's what we cover:Professional Identity: When Machines Outperform DoctorsWe revisit a JAMA study showing ChatGPT outperformed doctors in diagnosis, even when clinicians had access to the tool. The debate heats up as commentary pours in, questioning professional identity, training gaps, and the cultural impact on medicine. Link‘Doc in a Box' Fails: Lessons from Forward Health's CollapseForward Health, a $650M-backed US health startup, closed abruptly, leaving patients and employees in limbo. We discuss the pitfalls of tech-first healthcare models, investor errors, the importance of clinician and patient advisory roles, and the future of primary care.NZ Sets a Goal for Digital CareNew Zealand aims for 10% of care delivered digitally by mid-2025. The timing is ambitious, but is the target?Health Data as National Infrastructure: The UK's VisionA new report calls for treating health data as critical national infrastructure. We delve into its recommendations for a national health data strategy, governance, and patient benefit, reflecting on global implications for health data ecosystems. LinkShareByDefault: Australia's Health Data RevolutionAustralia's Health Minister introduces a bill mandating the sharing of pathology results and imaging through MyHealthRecord. What does this mean for patients and clinicians?Finally: Independent Evaluation of Generative AIIn the US the Healthcare AI Challenge Collaborative has been established to comparing the efficacy of generative AI tools for healthcare. They will produce public rankings of 9 commercial tools before Xmas. Follow Blackford Middleton on LinkedInVisit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Information Foraging: Crowdsourcing 4AI & Cancer-Killing Tech. Guests: Dr Robin Mann & Dr Honor Magon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 65:33


    Elon Musk's Grok and Crowdsourcing Medical Data – Elon Musk invites the public to submit medical images to his AI, Grok, raising serious privacy concerns and questions about AI's role in medical diagnostics.Australia's Workforce Report on Healthcare Professionals – Louise and George discuss whether the Australian government's workforce report is reductive in its vision for the role of tech.Health Technology in Conflict Zones – Health technology innovations are transforming care in war zones, with tools like telemedicine and AI bridging gaps in access and resources for conflict-affected populations.The First Wearable to Kill Cancer Cells – A new FDA-approved wearable device uses electric fields to target and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells, marking a significant step forward in digital cancer treatments.The results of the US election are in. What might be the impact on global health and digital innovation in health?Remote monitoring in the islands off Ireland gives Kate a trip down memory lane.World-Class Health Information Exchange – We welcome Dr. Robin Mann and Dr. Honor Magon, co-authors of a popular Pulse+IT opinion piece, to discuss the vision for a world-class Health Information Exchange and its potential impact.Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    What happens in digital health stays in digital health

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 68:03


    Contrary to the campaign slogan ‘what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas', George asks Louise to spill on how she found the HLTH Conference in Las Vegas.Samsung Health's New Features: From medication tracking to meal logging, Samsung's health app upgrades are enhancing preventive care and consumer engagement. What does this mean for the future of health apps?Virtual Health Disconnect: Deloitte's survey results highlight a growing divide between consumer demand for virtual health and health systems' priorities.The fallout from New Zealand's digital health budget cuts – what happens when you cut $500 million from a transformation program?How is the UK government's open consultation on fixing the NHS going? Is comedy going to be the only outcome?Virtual hospitals and hospital in the home programs are hot right now. How does that compare with primary care telehealth consultations?Guest: Fay Flevaras, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Department of Health and Aged Care shares insights on the monumental task of digitally enabling Australia's aged care sector. Her team's work promises to bring much-needed innovation and support to a vital sector, impacting the lives of many Australians.Follow Fay Flevaras on LinkedInVisit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    “AI is what it eats” Rachel Dunscombe says you can quote her!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 73:44


    Joining us in the Pulse Pod studio this week is Rachel Dunscombe, CEO of OpenEHR International and Director at the ECHA Alliance. Rachel is a key figure in advancing digital health systems globally, working with governments all over the world to advance their digital health agendas. She recently addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, on the topic of "Leveraging AI for Global Healthcare Delivery".It's a longevity, healthspan, preventative health focused data week on the pod. George and Louise discuss:Are governments spending enough of their health budget on preventative health? Are we taking advantage of digital health to enable a proactive and healthspan focused approach to healthcare?Have humans already maxed out our expected longevity? What happens with our aspirations don't align with the science?The Commonwealth Fund ranks the performance of health systems in 10 countries. Where did Australia land? What happens when you look under the hood of the headlines? Which country ranked the worst?We predict that AI will revolutionise patient triage. The question is not will it, but when will it? What does this mean for consumers, patients, clinicians and the broader workforce?Two thirds of Australian GPs reckon they are innovators and early adopters. The Aussie government is making waves in aged care and charging ahead in digital health, including measuring digital maturity in primary care and residential aged care. Follow Rachel Dunscombe on LinkedInResources: Study on public health funding of preventive health. LinkNature Ageing study on life expectancy limits. LinkDiagnostic accuracy study. LinkCommonwealth Fund report. LinkAI and patient triage at UK GP practice. LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    #PatientsUseAI – Do you?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 55:38


    Our special guest of Pulse is known online as e-Patient Dave. Dave Debronkart is a leading light of determined patient advocacy for individual access to their own health information. Dave joins us in the PulsePod studio to explore a new movement he is championing - #PatientsUseAIOpenAI's Transformation and AI TransparencyOpenAI's shift from a non-profit to a for-profit corporation raises concerns about AI transparency, accountability, and the concentration of power in tech. How does this impact healthcare?ChatGPT Use in HealthcareA recent UK study reveals that 20% of surveyed GPs use generative AI tools in clinical practice, highlighting the need for education on both benefits and risks.Patient Data Sharing ControversyAustralia's largest medical imaging lab, i-Med, faces scrutiny for sharing patient scans with AI startup Harrison AI. Is this all a bit overblown?AI Consultation in AustraliaThe Department of Health and Aged Care is running a public consultation on Safe and Responsible AI, with healthcare as a priority area for reform. Listeners are encouraged to participate in the consultation and attend the upcoming webinar hosted by the Australian Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (AAAiH).Epic vs Particle: Interoperability & Patient Access to RecordsA lawsuit between EMR provider Epic and data integration company Particle Health highlights the ongoing debate about patient access to health information and interoperability. The outcome of this case could significantly impact the future of health data sharing and the balance between data protection and patient empowerment.Real World Testing of AI-enabled General PracticeHunter, New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network has launched a new project to test and trial AI tools in 10 of its practices and act as a showcase for these tools.Resources: Follow ePatientDave on LinkedIn | X | SubstackGovt AI consultation: Submissions link & Webinar linkVisit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Apple & Google, are you listening? (spoiler alert… yes, they are!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 64:13


    Matthew Holt, Founder of The Health Care Blog and resident Silicon Valley digital health expert, joins us in the PulsePod studio to talk about the US election, what's happening in health start-ups and venture capital; and what other countries can learn from the US's experiments in the retailisation of healthcare.George and Louise discuss Apple's big health updates - not only is Apple listening, they are helping us hear! Google is experimenting with bioacoustics - by listening to us, can they diagnose respiratory illnesses?Do you live in a country where insurers can discriminate against you on the basis of your genetics? Thankfully, in Australia that is no longer the case.Louise experiments with AI to do an analysis of Lord Darzi's report into the NHS.The Australian government has a plan to keep older people at home for longer. How will technology enable this?Resources: Follow Matthew Holt on LinkedIn | X | The Health Care BlogFollow Keith Grimes on LinkedIn & play with his Custom GPT hereVisit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Drugs, sex and aged care – AI is everywhere

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 64:46


    We are living in the future! AI generated drug development is here. George and Louise discuss the significance of this development.There's lots of stuff happening in the aged care sector – from clinical information system standards to virtual nurses.Would you form an intimate relationship with a chatbot? We introduce the topic of sextech on the pod.The British Medical Journal Open has published a study on life expectancy in high income English-speaking countries. Guess which country comes out on top, and which one comes in dead last?Our special guest of Pulse is Dr Chris Longhurst, the Chief Clinical and Innovation Officer at UC San Diego Health. Chris is a leader in transforming the way AI is integrated into medicine and how we make healthcare smarter and more compassionate. Follow Chris on LinkedInResources:BMJ Open Life Expectancy LinkKate McDonald's article on Dr Chris Longhurst, ‘Pyjama time, generative AI and the rise of the chief health AI officer' LinkVisit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Daniel McCabe Part 2: Consumers want access to their health information and Daniel McCabe wants to make it happen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 20:45


    Today's episode features part 2 of our extended interview with Daniel McCabe, First Assistant Secretary for the Medicare Benefits and Digital Health Division at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. We dissect the government's ambitious agenda and their determination to put patients/consumers in the centre of healthcare innovation. Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Consumers want access to their health information and Daniel McCabe wants to make it happen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 64:02


    Today's episode features part 1 of our extended interview with Daniel McCabe, First Assistant Secretary for the Medicare Benefits and Digital Health Division at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. We dissect the government's ambitious agenda and their determination to put patients/consumers in the centre of healthcare innovation. Louise tries to convince George they should join the Ozempic gold rush. Will George consent?The British Medical Journal has published a piece entitled “Patients need access to their medical records—now”, adding a loud voice to the move to share by default health records with patients.What should be the role of tech in treating mental health conditions? The government is under fire for spending precious budget dollars on the wrong things.Now you can get a blood pressure test while you shop for DIY items and munch down on a sausage sizzle. Will the vegans invade that oh-so-precious Australian institution of a sausage in the Bunnings car park?Patient portals are not yet universal in Australia, but they will be if Kath Feely, Chief Allied Health Information Officer across Melbourne's Parkville hospital precinct has anything to do with it. (Go allied health!)Medical AI scribes are getting traction - can they be used to effortlessly create a version of the clinical note for patients? What do Pulse+IT readers think?And yay to our friends in Canada who have launched the first patient-mediated International Patient Summary in North America. It's kind of a big deal! Will Australia be following their lead?Be a Sparked Founding member and join government, healthcare providers, established big software companies and some startups too. Join up before 30 August to be considered a Founding Member. More info here.Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    What happens when patients get test results before doctors?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 54:37


    The PulsePod team are in Brisbane Australia for the annual HIC conference, where there are a number of announcements from large software companies, plus the future of interoperability seems to be FHIR all the way baby!What does Rock Health's latest report tell us about US investor sentiment in digital health startups?Investing in women founders is so rare, should we refer to that as the real unicorn in start-up land?US based personal genomics company 23andMe – from highs to lows, what's next for personal genomics?It's all about the patient!  Simple things like the convenience of online patient appointment booking are still a rarity in the land of medical specialists – one guy is wanting to change that!A visit into the Pulse+IT archives: Kate McDonald wrote about Chris Longhurst and Mike South's HIC2018 keynote on why clinician burnout related to the EMR is not as prevalent a problem in Australia vs US.Louise & George talk with Liz Salmi, Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the US about her research and patient advocacy work, and what does happen when patients get bad health news from reading it in online firstPaper: When Bad News Comes Through the PortalKeynote: Getting Ready for Open Everything, MedInfo 2023Follow @TheLizArmy on LinkedIn  |  X Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material.  People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn  Louise  |  George  |  Pulse+ITFollow us on X   Louise  |  George  |  Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Modernising our digital health infrastructure

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 64:48


    Oh the irony – a software tool designed to offer cyber protection against systems going down, causes the biggest cyber outage the world has ever seen.  Healthcare was not except.  The conspiracy theorists think it could be the start of SkyNet.  Good grief!Australia and the US making moves to improve cybersecurity in health.Will Tony Blair convince Labor it can save the NHS by creating a new national purpose around leading the biotech revolution? Tony Blair Institute report ‘A New National Purpose: Leading the Biotech Revolution”Sharing is caring - Love to our friends in Ireland progressing a legislative agenda around sharing health information.Our friends head to Canberra to convince politicians we need rules and regulation to ensure patient safety is paramount in the development of use of AI.Louise & George talk with Peter O'Halloran, Chief Digital Officer, Australian Digital Health Agency ADHAon the exciting announcements around modernising Australia's digital health infrastructure.Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material.  People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn  Louise  |  George  |  Pulse+ITFollow us on X   Louise  |  George  |  Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    How many strategies does a digital health plan make?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 57:47


    Unless EMRs have become sentient and we missed the memo, humans are ultimately the cause of an ‘EMR error' South Australia Health is currently investigating.What's required to save the NHS? There's a new sheriff in the town that is the United Kingdom and he's a big fan of tech. Can he course correct the NHS?Should we be worried about life expectancy numbers going in the wrong direction? George and Louise discuss longevity science and healthspan and the role of digital, data and where the Kardashians sit on the hype curve.Our guest today is Catherine de Fontenay, Commissioner at the Productivity Commission discussing their newly released report Leveraging Digital Technology in Healthcare.Tis the season for all things strategy! This week Pulse+IT Editor in Chief, Kate McDonald has an update on the plethora of digital health strategies across the planet, including a pretty good one on aged care by the Australian government.Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT| Catherine de FontenayFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    What's Ozempic got to do with digital health?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 69:31


    Well it's finally here! George and Louise managed to coordinate their calendars to bring you this inaugural episode of Pulse. They lift the lid on a range of hot topics, from AI, Ozempic, the telehealth wars and even Southpark gets a mention. They also share their own career journeys that led them to digital health – they might have been younger, but their passion for all things health and innovation has only grown stronger! This week they are joined by Pulse+IT Editor in Chief, Kate McDonald.Link to the IMF Report discussed Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

    Louise and George explain what happens on Pulse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 2:42


    Two Australians who've been at the heart of digital health since before it was called digital health - Dr Louise Schaper and Dr George Margelis, join forces to bring you Pulse. Pulse lifts the lid on all things innovation and tech in healthcare. With expert analysis, breaking news, and some idle banter, you'll feel at home tuning in to hear these digital health legends and their friends discuss the key stories that are happening today, which will have profound impact on the health system of tomorrow.Visit Pulse+IT.news to learn more, engage in this rapidly growing sector, and subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+ITFollow us on X Louise | George | Pulse+ITSend us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.newsProduction by Octopod Productions  |  Ivan Juric

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