A single weakness hindering the Australian healthcare industry’s progress in digital transformation is cyber security.
In recent years, Australia has made serious efforts to develop the digital capacity of its health system, including multi-year investment and the creation of a digital platform. National strategy, detailed plan and action plan. It is working towards its vision of “using trusted, timely and accessible data and digital as the foundation for personalized and connected health and wellbeing experiences for all Australians.”
However, Hamish Steel, founder of the Digital Health Festival (DHF) in Australia, emphasized: “Cybersecurity continues to be an increasingly serious issue in digital health adoption.”
“Over the past 18 months, we have seen significant breaches at critical services across the country, including most recently by non-profit organizations. Health of St. Vincent. That’s a big concern that the top experts we’re bringing to this year’s event will help address.”
Meeting of minds
Although relatively new, DHF has become a sought-after annual event where stakeholders across the industry, from executives and healthcare providers to influencers and decision makers, coming together to connect and learn from each other, striving to find solutions to the pressing challenges of the healthcare industry. .
“DHF started as a pandemic side project while I was finishing my law degree,” Steel shares. During that time, he began looking into the medical technology sector for potential investment projects. He attended virtual health events and noticed something was being overlooked.
“Covid-19 shows the huge need for innovation. Looking at the ecosystem, you see innovation in small pieces. Every care provider faces challenges and opportunities for adoption digital.”
He said: “This is an exciting time in healthcare; The opportunity for digital transformation is huge.”
Focus on AI, cybersecurity
Each year, DHF addresses timely issues and seeks to unite participants to discuss solutions across five core areas: Data & Analytics, Virtual Care, Productivity & Training workforce, Senior Care Innovation and Primary & Allied Care.
“At our core, we connect people with great ideas. We aim to create great event experiences that prioritize innovation, connection, serendipity and learning. Because of this, We focus on two things: encouraging serendipity and connection, and creating insight-rich content,” Steel explains.
“This is not an event for academic jargon. We challenge our presenters to be extremely practical, covering the biggest and controversial topics whenever possible .”
Besides cybersecurity, which has become a major topic of frequent concern among attendees, the growing popularity of AI will also be highlighted in the third edition of DHF on May 7-8. 5 in Melbourne.
“The buzzword on everyone’s mind is innovative AI. ChatGPT has democratized health information for patients. We’re fortunate to receive great advice from respected AI experts like Dr. Stefan Harrer of IBM. He raised ethical concerns about ChatGPT before I knew what it was – I’m glad we listened,” Steel said.
In addition, women’s health and, for the first time, the health of Indigenous nations will also be addressed in the discussions.
“We continue to highlight women’s health; we’re delighted to host Ida Tin, founder of Clue, who coined the term ‘femtech’. I’m also really proud that this year we has brought digital health content to Indigenous Peoples. We look forward to promoting any innovation that can, in some way, bridge social inequities.”
DHF 2024 seeks to double the previous edition, bringing together more than 6,000 senior executives across Australia-New Zealand and overseas.
“DHF has become a very practical, business-oriented format. People come not just to attend the conference but they know that it is that time of year when all their customers, partners and friends meet.”
–
Use code HITNEWS to get $150 off tickets to the Digital Health Festival May 7-8 in Melbourne, Australia. Visit the DHF 2024 website here.
