Show Notes
In Season 1, we introduced Sparked and explored the big-picture challenges of digital health standards in Australia and around the world. Now, in Season 2, we’re diving deeper—spotlighting sectors like aged care, nursing, and allied health, and unpacking what interoperability beyond FHIR really means. Join us as we explore how better data standards can transform care, one connection at a time.
FHIR alone isn’t enough to revolutionise Australia’s digital health landscape. In this episode, we explore how interoperability depends on the alignment of multiple standards—including OpenEHR and SNOMED. Our expert guests unpack what makes Patient Summaries work, how terminology supports data exchange, and why Sparked’s approach is catching global attention. Guests: Grahame Grieve, Rachel Dunscombe, Rory Davidson
More from The Sparked Podcast
AI is changing healthcare fast, but behind the headlines, it’s standards like FHIR that ensure data is safe, consistent, and ready for real-world use. In this episode, they explore how robust digital health standards provide the foundation for responsible AI adoption, from clinical care to patient empowerment, while also highlighting current limits and risks. Guests: Josh Mandell & Michael Lawley Key points covered: Why structured data matters - Reliable, structured data, enabled by FHIR, is essential for scaling AI safely and efficiently. While AI can process unstructured data, standards reduce ambiguity and errors. Automation, scale, and patient access - Highlighting how AI and standards can reduce reliance on manual work in healthcare, automate routine tasks, and increasingly support patient engagement with their own data. Governance, risk, and Sparked’s role - They discussed potential risks with rapid AI adoption, the importance of community standards, and the unique position of Sparked to bring stakeholders together and shape a safe and equitable digital health future.
What does it mean for patient empowerment when health information is truly connected? In this episode, the FHIR creator and leading health consumer advocates discuss the real-world impact of digital health standards, why interoperability matters for safety and quality, and how Sparked is working to embed consumer perspectives in technical work from the outset. Guests: Gillian Mason, Grahame Grieve & Pip Brennan Key points: Why interoperability matters for patients - Pip explains that without connected systems, gaps in information lead to repeated tests, risks, and safety issues - contrary to public assumptions that health data already flows smoothly. Making consumer involvement meaningful - Grahame and Gillian discussed sustained support and genuine engagement of consumer advocates throughout standards processes, rather than token inclusion. Patient empowerment beyond the technical layer - They agreed that having data is only the starting point; systems must be designed so patients can help validate, interpret, and act on their own health information in partnership with clinicians.
Women’s health has been historically under-represented in health data and research, leading to persistent inequities in care. As digital health evolves, there’s a unique opportunity to address these gaps, but only if innovation is grounded in strong, shared standards. In this episode, they explore how FHIR-based interoperability can help create health data that is meaningful, portable, and genuinely supports women’s health across the system.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health relies on more than just clinical data - it depends on community, culture, and a holistic view of wellbeing. In this episode, it explores why Indigenous data sovereignty is critical to digital health reform and how current systems often fail to capture what matters in First Nations care. Guests: Danielle Dyall & Dr Andrew Goodman Key topics discussed: Holistic health and social emotional wellbeing - Detailing how Indigenous health includes cultural, community, and spiritual factors, and why electronic medical records rarely reflect this full picture. Indigenous data sovereignty - Both guests explain the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ownership and control of their data, highlighting practical movements and policy reforms supporting this. Co-design and trust - The need for genuine co-design with communities is emphasised as essential for creating culturally safe, effective digital health systems and standards.
Australia’s journey toward interoperable digital health depends on how well states and territories can align their distinct approaches. In this episode, it focuses on the realities of FHIR adoption in complex state-based systems, the practical challenges of scaling standards, and what needs to change to truly benefit patients and clinicians at every level. Guests: Andrew Aho, Peter Sprivulis & Marc Belej Key themes and takeaways: The critical role of state leadership - States are not just implementing national standards, they’re shaping how FHIR and interoperability are understood and operationalised at scale. Practical barriers to real-world interoperability - Budgeting, procurement processes, and legacy contracting can slow the adoption of standards despite wide support among clinicians and managers. Patient experience front and centre - True interoperability means fewer gaps, less repetition, and a better care experience as patients move across providers and settings.