Driving Change in the Health Sector

AI and Digitisation in Focus at the recent Australian Private Hospital Association (APHA) Congress

Our first major conference of the year set the tone for what’s clearly a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Australian health sector.   

Personally, it was great to be back in Darwin again – I didn’t realise how much I missed wild barramundi, the view from Stokes Wharf and the unique Top End culture! 

The conference spotlight was firmly on the potential of digitisation and artificial intelligence (AI) – the conversations we had with attendees were both optimistic and realistic which was pleasing.

The central theme of conversations we were having was around solving Revenue Cycle Management challenges through smarter, tech-enabled solutions.

Senior health leadership are seeking innovative ways to reduce their costs and improve efficiency, and they acknowledge that the way forward is through digital solutions – AI is fast becoming a central part of that strategy.

In particular, there was significant interest in our AI-assisted Revenue Cycle Management and Computer Assisted Coding solutions, as organisations look to streamline operations and better manage clinical documentation and reimbursement workflows.

One recurring pain point discussed was the ongoing cycle of health fund audits and counter-audits; an administrative burden that continues to strain resources. Eliminating this back-and-forth through better data transparency and smarter tools could deliver real savings across the system. It’s a goal that’s already within reach, and one we are actively supporting through our Companion Suite’s Enhance Module – the one stop shop for live coding advice, audit program management and streamlined optimisation. Getting high NWAU has never been easier really.

Of course, while the appetite for solutions is strong, there’s also a healthy dose of scepticism from some industry leaders about where we currently stand in terms of technological maturity. This is not unexpected and in fact, it underscores the importance of continual innovation. Also, one quote during the sessions that resonated was the supposition that the “the clinical community is unconvinced”; the health industry needs to have made, and to make a greater effort to bring clinicians along with the non-clinical advances.

To lead in this space, we must not only keep pace with evolving AI capabilities, but also consistently demonstrate the tangible value of our Code Accelerate Computer Assisted Coding and AI Education Companion. And this is what we are focussing on. We did at least a dozen demos of our tech and Mike our CTO was run off his feet!

Another topic that surfaced across conference sessions was the viability of private hospitals and their vital role in Australia’s healthcare landscape. The private sector performs over 68% of all elective surgeries and facilitates 41% of hospital admissions in Australia; figures that were highlighted repeatedly as a reminder of the invaluable contribution to Australians’ health care. Ensuring Private Hospital sustainability is not just important for the sector, but for the optimal wellbeing and quality of life of the broader population. We are firmly united in supporting them in everything we do.

We extend our sincere thanks to the event organisers at APHA and all the individuals who made the conference such a success. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with clients, engage with industry leaders, and share the work we’re doing to shape the future of healthcare to enhance Revenue Cycle Management.

If you would like to know more about things to do in Darwin, or about iMedX please email me on kdawson@imedx.com.au or +61 408 056 630!

Here’s to more conversations and more progress throughout the year, I am looking forward to the next round of conferences and conversations.

Author: Karen Dawson, Strategic Partnership Director – Revenue Cycle Management
Contact Details: see above, and LinkedIn