Telstra Health's Smart Connect cuts administration, reduces errors and streamlines the pathology workflow.
On 17 March 2026 Telstra Health, Australia’s largest digital health technology company, launched Smart Connect, a new pathology eRequesting capability within MedicalDirector Clinical, designed to replace manual, paper-based pathology requests with a fully digital workflow. The feature launches with Healius Pathology Network as its first integrated partner.
Smart Connect allows GPs to generate, edit, electronically sign and securely send pathology eRequests directly from within their existing workflow, without leaving the MedicalDirector Clinical solution. Requests can be sent electronically to both patients and pathology laboratories, with radiology eRequesting to be added in future releases.
The launch comes as demand for diagnostic services continues to rise. eRequesting is becoming critical to maintaining efficient clinical workflows and supporting timely patient care. According to research conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 59 per cent of Australians accessed Medicare‑subsidised tests in 2022-23, with 91 per cent of those delivered through primary and community care.
“Too often, healthcare digitisation optimises one link in the chain, instead of supporting every stakeholder across the patient journey,” said Dr Jennifer Beer, Product Executive at Telstra Health. “Smart Connect breaks that pattern — reducing admin for clinicians, removing paper for patients, and freeing pathology staff from manual data entry. That end‑to‑end impact is what truly transformative healthcare technology looks like.”
Smart Connect is powered by Telstra Health’s FHIR-native Health Information Exchange (HIE), enabling clinical information to be shared securely and in near real time between MedicalDirector Clinical and integrated pathology providers.
Following the initial launch with Healius, Telstra Health will work with additional pathology providers in the coming months to support broader adoption of eRequesting across primary care.
Healius Chief Operations Officer, Puneet Nagi, said the partnership marked a significant step forward in collaboration between pathology providers and clinicians, helping improve efficiency and patient experience.
“By enabling secure, near real-time electronic requests, we’re helping GPs reduce administrative burden and find more time for patient care, while making it easier for patients to access and follow-up their results. This is particularly important in today’s virtual, digital-first and telehealth-enabled environment,” he said.
“Through Smart Connect, our laboratories benefit from structured, legible and editable requests — helping to minimise transcription errors and reduce processing delays.”
Smart Connect is the latest addition to MedicalDirector Clinical’s suite of digital workflow tools, which also includes Smart Scribe, an AI-powered clinical documentation capability, and integrated Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.
“Smart Connect is just one way we’re addressing longstanding issues with siloed data and fragmented workflows — securely connecting MedicalDirector GPs with pathology providers, and soon, radiology providers,” Dr Beer said.
To find out more about Smart Connect, visit https://www.medicaldirector.com/smarter
For further information, please contact: communications@health.telstra.com
About Telstra Health
At Telstra Health, we’re here for life – working alongside governments, clinicians, aged care providers and communities to support better care for all. With a unique footprint across Australia and internationally, we bring deep expertise across health, aged care and social services.
Our capabilities and portfolio spanning national cancer screening and social support programs including 1800RESPECT, with secure, integrated software solutions including Medical Director, Clinical Manager, Communicare and Fred IT Gorup solutions.
By connecting people, providers and systems with near real-time data, AI-powered workflows, and solutions designed with clinical safety in mind, supported by robust cyber and data security, we help enable coordinated care that supports improved health outcomes and empowers individuals to take charge of their wellbeing.
Telstra Health’s MedicalDirector software has supported GPs and practice teams for more than 30 years through its comprehensive suite of on-premise and cloud-based software.
About Healius Pathology Network (Healius)
The Healius Pathology Network operates approximately 100 pathology laboratories and approximately 2,000 patient collection centres across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia. Healius delivers leading diagnostic services in anatomical and clinical pathology and genomic diagnostics. Healius brands include QML Pathology, Laverty Pathology, Dorevitch Pathology, Western Diagnostic Pathology, TML Pathology, and Abbott Pathology.
