Telstra Health to modernise My Health Record with real-time data

The Australian Digital Health Agency has awarded Telstra Health the contract to lead the transformation of the My Health Record system.

Telstra Health, supported by Smile Digital Health and Leidos Australia, will work alongside the Agency to deliver real-time, interoperable health solutions intended to assist Australian healthcare consumers and the providers supporting them.

The My Health Record system currently holds more than 1.8 billion clinical documents uploaded by healthcare organisations such as hospitals, pathologists, and specialists. As a national asset, it enables widespread access to vital health information.

The system's existing reliance on Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) has increasingly been identified as a limitation, particularly as demand for real-time, interoperable data rises. The recent implementation of the Sharing by Default legislation has further increased document sharing, highlighting challenges in integrating emerging healthcare technologies.

Healthcare providers often face difficulties in extracting actionable data from CDA documents, which can cause inefficiencies at the point of care and disrupt the flow of information between systems.

Ongoing growth in public participation has also underscored the need to update the data architecture to support future health information sharing and safeguard the capacity of the national healthcare infrastructure.

Consumer demand

Agency Chief Executive Officer Amanda Cattermole PSM pointed to a notable rise in usage, stating there had been an increase of more than 60 per cent in views of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports on My Health Record over the past year.

"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 the company was looking forward to working with the Agency to progress the modernisation of national digital health infrastructure.

"Through this collaboration, we are enhancing connectivity and secure data exchange, supporting seamless integration across care teams. 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."

Data standards

Smile Digital Health, which has supported FHIR implementation in Canada and the United States, is contributing its expertise to the project. Its Chief Executive Officer, Duncan Weatherston, commented on the focus on FHIR standards:

"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."

Leidos Australia's experience includes major health system integration projects, such as electronic medical record deployments for the US Department of Defence, as well as local projects involving Telstra Health's digital pharmacy solutions. Leidos Australia Chief Executive Paul Chase said:

"This partnership demonstrates our combined capability to deliver large-scale, complex digital health projects across various domains."

FHIR explained

Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is an international standard for the electronic exchange of healthcare information. HL7 developed it to improve interoperability among different health IT systems using modular, resource-based approaches. FHIR is designed to facilitate the secure and efficient integration, modification, and sharing of health data, using web-based technologies and widely adopted internet protocols. Its flexibility and scalability support both clinical and administrative functions within the health sector.

This contract is intended as part of the Agency's ongoing transformation of national digital health infrastructure, to enable Australians to access the health information they need, whenever and wherever required.