Talking HealthTech

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jakomi Mathews, founder and CEO of Goto.health, about the role of technology in improving price transparency, payment workflows, and access to healthcare services for both patients and clinics across Australia
The conversation explores how gaps in pricing visibility and payment processes continue to shape patient behaviour and clinic operations, and why these challenges persist despite broader conversations around health system reform.
The discussion delves into the origin story behind Goto.health and the real-world experiences that highlighted the need for a more transparent and predictable approach to healthcare payments.
It also examines the growing impact of affordability pressures on patients, including delayed care and the risk of bill shock, as well as the operational inefficiencies faced by clinics in managing cancellations, no-shows, and inconsistent cash flow.
Beyond these challenges, the episode looks at how digital payment models inspired by other industries can streamline booking and payment processes across different care settings.
It also considers broader implications for the healthcare ecosystem, drawing on insights from both Australian and international approaches, and highlights emerging innovations that aim to create a more connected, efficient, and patient-centred healthcare experience.

Key Takeaways
🩺 Price transparency and accessibility remain major barriers to healthcare; nearly 50% of Australians delay or cancel care due to affordability
💳 Goto.health uses a model similar to Uber for healthcare payments, guaranteeing clinic payments and reducing cancellations or no-shows
📈 The current healthcare SaaS booking incumbents are still only capturing a small fraction of medical appointments in Australia
🦷 The Australian healthcare landscape has significant cost variance, especially in dental care, driving some patients to seek treatment overseas
🌏 Regulatory trends are pushing for mandated price transparency, both in Australia and in the US, influencing Goto.health’s roadmap

Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction & background
00:47 – Goto.health origin story
02:05 – Clinic workflow challenges
03:18 – Price transparency impact
07:41 – Out-of-pocket healthcare costs
12:02 – Benefits for clinics and patients
15:13 – Goto.health’s product in action
18:07 – Scaling the model & group implementations
21:08 – Payment integrations and industry challenges
23:29 – Roadmap and international expansion
25:45 – Market context and platform growth

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Tim Ferris, Vice President of Healthcare Practice for Intersystems, Dr Tom Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Heidi Health, and Hal Wolf, President and CEO of HIMSS, about the evolving role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in addressing challenges in healthcare delivery, data integration, and system efficiency.
The conversation explores how real-world pressures such as workforce strain, rising demand, and fragmented systems are shaping the way technology is adopted across healthcare.
It looks closely at what makes digital tools succeed in practice, from easing clinical workflows to improving access to meaningful data, and why many past solutions have struggled to deliver on their promise.
The episode also dives into the growing impact of AI in clinical settings, including its role in reducing administrative burden and supporting better decision-making.
Alongside this, it examines the importance of trust, patient expectations, and the need for systems that are not only innovative but practical, reliable, and built to support care where it matters most.
This episode was recorded during HIMSS 2026 in Las Vegas and features conversations Talking HealthTech had on the expo floor with industry leaders and innovators.

Key Takeaways
🧑‍⚕️ Technology’s evolving role: AI and large language models are poised to transform healthcare delivery by addressing supply and demand imbalances and supporting frontline clinicians.
🔑 Practical implementation challenges: Real-world adoption depends on solving specific clinical problems, ensuring seamless data aggregation, and focusing on user-friendly tools.
💸 Funding and adoption incentives: Different healthcare systems (such as the NHS vs the US) adapt AI and technology for cost, efficiency, and clinician satisfaction, affecting the pace and nature of adoption.
🤝 Data, trust, and usage: The growth of agents and AI in healthcare introduces new complexities around data ownership, patient trust, and security, requiring new ways to manage access and responsible use.
🌏 Innovation across the industry: Global perspectives sync on the value of integrating AI into workflows, from documentation to communication, showing both opportunities and hesitations among clinicians and patients.

Timestamps
00:00 - Peter Birch: Episode intro
02:56 - Tim Ferris, Vice President of Healthcare Practice, Intersystems
15:17 - Dr Tom Kelly, CEO & Co-Founder, Heidi Health
23:36 - Hal Wolf, President & CEO, HIMSS
39:42 - Peter Birch: Episode wrap-up

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes
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In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Rowland Illing, Chief Medical Officer for Amazon Web Services, about how cloud technology is reshaping healthcare and what that means for the people working within it.
They explore the rapid rise of AI and software agents, and how these tools are beginning to change the daily experience for clinicians, patients, and health system operators.
They unpack AWS’s dual role as both a global cloud provider and an increasingly active contributor to healthcare solutions, sharing practical examples from health systems and life sciences organisations around the world.
The discussion also looks at how infrastructure decisions made today are enabling new models of care, from streamlining administrative workflows to improving how patients access and navigate services.
The conversation offers a grounded look at where healthcare is heading, what is already changing behind the scenes, and how technology can support better, more human-centred care when applied with purpose.
This episode was recorded during the HIMSS26 conference and captures the latest conversations and innovations at the intersection of healthcare and cloud computing.

Key Takeaways
🧬 AWS underpins global healthcare and life sciences, supporting drug discovery, health systems, and tech vendors worldwide
💻 AI and cloud services enable faster, more scalable solutions in drug discovery, imaging, and genomics
🔗 Modular, standards-based services like AWS HealthLake and HealthOmics foster interoperability and innovation for vendors and clinicians
🤖 The emergence of AI agents is automating admin tasks, streamlining scheduling, patient interactions, and clinical workflows
🙋 Patient education and transparency around AI use remain essential to build trust and improve care delivery

Timestamps
00:00 – Episode intro & guest overview
01:16 – AWS’s healthcare ecosystem role
05:21 – AI in drug discovery and life sciences
07:27 – Modular services: HealthLake, Imaging, HealthOmics
12:22 – AI agents in patient engagement & admin
18:10 – Human element: clinicians and patient care
21:01 – AI, uncertainty, and patient education
27:16 – Advice for CIOs, CTOs, and next steps

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.
And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, recorded live at HIMSS26, Peter Birch sits down with Troy Kennedy, AVP of Client Partner Technology at Solventum, to explore the evolving role of clinical coding and the growing impact of AI in healthcare.
The discussion unpacks how clinical coding underpins care quality, funding models, and system performance, while tracing its journey from manual processes to advanced, technology-enabled workflows.
The conversation also dives into the practical application of AI, including how automation is being used to support clinical documentation, improve data accuracy, and ease workforce pressures.
It also examines the importance of governance, local context, and human oversight in ensuring AI delivers meaningful and safe outcomes.
Drawing on real-world experience, the episode highlights Solventum’s work with hospital systems and offers insight into how health organisations can approach digital transformation in a way that balances innovation with accountability.
This episode was recorded during the HIMSS26 conference, capturing industry conversations and innovations showcased at the event.

Key Takeaways
🛠 Clinical coding is the digital language of health, vital for accurate patient care and health system management
🤖 AI and machine learning are transforming clinical coding, enabling automation while retaining the need for human oversight
📈 Clinical Document Improvement (CDI) enhances record accuracy, ensuring care is properly reflected and measured
💡 Solventum's 360 Encompass platform combines coding, CDI, and quality management for scalable hospital outcomes
🔑 Strategic adoption requires trusted partners, regulatory compliance, and understanding the local healthcare landscape

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction & Troy’s background
01:35 What is clinical coding?
03:50 Evolution of technology in coding
05:59 Clinical Document Improvement explained
09:04 Solventum’s AI tools at HIMSS
11:22 360 Encompass platform overview
13:19 AI's impact on clinical coding roles
15:37 Recommendations for health systems
18:56 Key focus areas for Australian healthcare

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.
And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Sean Walker, CTO of Alcidion, about the role of AI in healthcare software development, the architecture behind Alcidion’s Miya Precision platform, and how thoughtful AI adoption is helping improve outcomes for both clinicians and patients.
The conversation explores how healthcare software is evolving, from the importance of getting foundational architecture right through to building systems that can scale and adapt as clinical needs change.
They also unpack how AI is being used in practice, not just as a clinical support tool, but as a way to accelerate development, streamline workflows, and enhance the way software is designed and delivered.
Along the way, the discussion highlights the balance between speed and responsibility, the growing role of regulation, and why keeping clinicians involved remains critical to building trust in AI-driven systems.
This episode offers a grounded look at where AI is making a real impact today, and what it takes to build healthcare technology that is both innovative and safe.

Key Takeaways
🚀 Building strong software foundations is essential for scaling and integrating advanced capabilities like AI and large language models.
💡 Distinct uses of AI exist: both in software development processes and as clinical decision support tools.
👥 Keeping humans in the loop is critical for maintaining trust and reliability in clinical AI applications.
🛠️ Skills like context engineering and agentic workflows are becoming necessary, beyond simple prompt engineering.
🌐 Registered and codified AI tools, such as Alcidion’s concept detection, enable more robust clinical data and contribute to improved patient outcomes.

Timestamps
01:12 — Introduction to Alcidion and Sean’s role
03:06 — Approaching platform architecture in healthtech
06:30 — Disruptive AI capabilities and transformations
10:22 — AI’s impact on software development workflow
19:49 — Outcomes for clinicians and patients
23:48 — TGA certification and concept detection
28:09 — Human-in-the-loop for clinical AI
34:08 — Future-ready software developer skills

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.
And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.