Standardisation would democratise access to care by enabling a truly integrated ecosystem, where patient data is not confined to isolated silos.
For many it is hard to imagine Australia without universal access to healthcare. However, we seem to be moving in a direction that would make it exclusive.
It isn’t a policy change, a cost-of-living issue, or even a social issue causing the shift. It’s healthcare’s digital administrative systems.
Essentially, the various systems used for administrative work at offices, medical centres, hospitals, institutes and service facilities across the country – in both the public and private sectors – don’t communicate externally. This creates huge problems when it comes to the sharing of information, especially patient files.
It’s creating a process where only certain people will receive care from specific services. Others are facing delays, restrictions, and rejection, while healthcare workers are fed up dealing with the unnecessary roadblocks.
Whether the lack of integration is caused by incompatible formats, broken APIs, network issues, or missing integration logic is a secondary issue. What must come first is a standard of compliance to allow these digital systems to communicate easily for the sake of the people who need care and those providing it.
Exclusivity creeping into healthcare
We’re in a digital revolution and every sector has its growing pains adopting new technology. But we must ensure the policy and standards reflect established operations.
The new digital administrative systems in Australia are reminiscent of the US insurance model, where health maintenance organisations (HMOs) –groups of health professionals (GPs, specialists, etc.) at every level and for all services – are created. They are exclusive to patients under the group’s particular insurance. Australia appears to be creating their own HMOs without insurers but with just as much exclusivity.
Australia’s healthcare system consistently ranks among the best in the world, so it is impractical to try and instill systems that are inefficient in meeting our own nation’s different and unique needs.
The standardisation of administrative systems across healthcare providers would play a transformative role in removing the artificial barriers currently fragmenting care delivery.
Operating on incompatible platforms with siloed architecture – their own processes, data entry methods, record formats, and communication tools – complicates coordination among providers and fosters this exclusivity.
Some health facilities and services are turning patients away because they’re not in a certain network, despite the patient’s files being available by other transfer methods.
System limitations shouldn’t be the cause of divides and companies who develop the systems shouldn’t dictate who has access. If someone needs healthcare, they should get it.
Healthcare needs digital unity now
Australia has regularly been at the forefront of health technology – cochlear implant, pacemaker, spray-on-skin, ultrasound; even the continued development of digital health services following covid to support rural and remote communities.
Yet, in today’s world, where we essentially have computers in our pockets, Australian healthcare workers are resorting to outdated technology, like fax, to transfer files and information.
It isn’t a rejection of advancement; it’s a rejection of poor operations. Instead of streamlining work, improving efficiency, and making life easier, these systems are pushing us backwards.
Related
By implementing standardised systems – ideally interoperable platforms with shared protocols and data structures – information could seamlessly flow between hospitals, GPs, specialists, facilities, and services. This integration should go beyond technical compatibility to include governance frameworks, secure authentication, and consent management processes.
Leveraging common APIs and open standards would enable different health IT systems to speak the same language, resulting in smoother patient transitions, reduced duplication of tests or paperwork, and timely access to the same up-to-date information for all involved.
Does Australia have a perfect healthcare system? Not necessarily.
Most specialist care is only available in major cities, there are staff shortages at all levels, cost-of-living issues make it harder to access, and there are disparities in quality of care across different socio-economic areas.
But in an industry that does so much good, despite extensive challenges, avoiding these correctable hurdles is not only about operational efficiency – it’s about respecting patients and workers alike.
Standardisation would democratise access to care by enabling a truly integrated ecosystem, where patient data is not confined to isolated silos and can benefit practitioners in providing more holistic, collaborative, and continuous treatment journeys.
It would also reduce administrative burden, cut down on human error, and allow clinicians to focus their expertise.
This keeps the spotlight on what truly matters: patients and the quality of care they depend on.
David Irecki is CTO for Asia-Pacific Japan at Boomi, based in Sydney.
