Author: Matthew Miller

• Telstra Health secures a contract worth $33.2 million to redesign the data architecture of My Health Record.
• This initiative will improve data interoperability by utilizing the global FHIR standard.
• Telstra is partnering with Leidos Australia and Smile Digital Health for this endeavor.
• The project intends to address shortcomings in the exchange of healthcare data.
• This transformation is part of ADHA’s overall digital infrastructure plan.

Redesigning My Health Record’s Data Architecture

Telstra’s digital health branch has been granted a $33.2 million contract to redesign the data architecture of the My Health Record system managed by the Australian government. This important project will follow a model for global interoperability aimed at changing the way health data is accessed and shared.

The Function of FHIR in Healthcare Interoperability

The revamped data architecture will employ Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), an international standard aimed at making healthcare data modular, accessible, and shareable. This will enable FHIR-based data exchanges within My Health Record, complementing existing Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) formats. The goal of this integration is to support both traditional and modern healthcare systems, ensuring fluid information exchange.

Partnership and Expertise

In this comprehensive project, Telstra Health will join forces with Leidos Australia and Smile Digital Health from Canada. The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) states that this project is designed to tackle existing inefficiencies in deriving actionable data from CDA documents, which have hampered seamless data exchange between various systems.

“This announcement underscores Telstra Health’s proficiency and innovative approach to building a health data infrastructure that is ready for the future for Australians,” said ADHA CEO Amanda Cattermole. The collaboration is anticipated to establish a foundation for a more efficient healthcare system within the country.

Transforming Digital Infrastructure

The announcement aligns with ADHA’s tender to unify My Health Record and its API Gateway into a single support and maintenance contract. This action is part of a larger plan to revamp its digital infrastructure and reassess its enduring National Infrastructure Operator (NIO) arrangement, which has been in place with Accenture since 2012. This major tender marks the first competitive bidding process for the $788 million digital infrastructure contract in more than ten years.

Conclusion

Telstra Health’s effort to redesign My Health Record’s data architecture is a crucial move towards modernizing Australia’s healthcare data systems. By harnessing FHIR standards and working with industry specialists, the project aims to improve data interoperability and address existing inefficiencies, ultimately leading to a more effective healthcare ecosystem.

Q: What is the monetary value of the contract given to Telstra Health?

A: Telstra Health has received a contract valued at $33.2 million.

Q: What technology will serve as the foundation for the new data architecture?

A: The new architecture will utilize Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to enhance data sharing.

Q: Who are the partners of Telstra Health in this initiative?

A: Telstra Health is partnering with Leidos Australia and Canada’s Smile Digital Health.

Q: What are the primary objectives of the data architecture redesign?

A: The redesign aims to address data extraction inefficiencies and enhance the seamless flow of healthcare information.

Q: What larger strategy is the ADHA implementing in conjunction with this project?

A: The ADHA is reforming its digital infrastructure, which includes a tender to merge My Health Record and its API Gateway into a singular support contract.