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As highlighted by Humanetix Chief Technology and Product Officer, Dr. Malte Stien, “Personal health information is scattered and fragmented all over the Australian healthcare system, making it harder than it needs to be for healthcare practitioners to provide safe care efficiently and effectively. Australian care recipients deserve better - in any care setting. FHIR is a step in the right direction; applied well – and with the right government-driven incentives – it has the potential to be a massive step towards a unified and holistic digital health landscape.”
An Australian-first FHIR accelerator program, Sparked was launched in Brisbane, with the goal of delivering a core set of FHIR standards tailored for Australian settings within the next two years. The consortium driving this initiative includes key stakeholders such as the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC), CSIRO, the Australian Digital Health Agency, and HL7 Australia.
The establishment of Sparked is a clear signal of the Australian Government's prioritisation of interoperability and the sharing of standards-based clinical data across the national healthcare system. This commitment aligns with the vision of creating a more cohesive and interconnected healthcare ecosystem, echoing the sentiments expressed by Dr. Stien regarding the fragmented nature of personal health information.
Isobel Frean, Chair of HL7 Australia, emphasised the crucial significance of the Australian FHIR Framework and Community process, serving as the foundation for Sparked and upcoming accelerators. She highlighted that the collaborative approach of the AFCP in continuously developing and sustaining the FHIR standard guarantees its continued relevance and adaptability to the changing requirements of the healthcare sector.
As Humanetix takes its place as a driving force behind Sparked, in partnership with CSIRO, a transformative journey begins towards a unified and holistic digital health landscape. The collaborative efforts of this initiative signify a commitment to better healthcare for all Australians. With the FHIR Accelerator Program at its core, Sparked is set to ignite positive change, bridging gaps in healthcare and paving the way for a more connected and patient-centric future.
