Around 100 researchers, clinicians, policymakers and industry leaders gathered in Sydney yesterday to explore how promising digital health research can be translated into real-world improvements for patients and clinicians.
Hosted by the HCF Research Foundation, the inaugural Digital Innovations in Health Services: Translating Research into Reality event brought together experts from research, healthcare, industry and policy to explore how digital health innovations can be successfully adopted, scaled and embedded into everyday care.
The event showcased Foundation-funded research and emerging innovations across cancer care, diabetes, mental health, cardiovascular disease, hearing health, aged care and chronic disease management, with discussions highlighting a common challenge across the sector: technology only works when it fits into people’s lives, workflows and care settings
Dr Chris Pettigrew, Head of the HCF Research Foundation, said translating research into practice is one of the most important opportunities facing the health sector.
“Australia doesn’t have a shortage of good ideas in healthcare. What we often lack is a clear pathway from research to routine practice.
“The real opportunity lies in helping proven innovations move beyond the research setting and into everyday healthcare.”
“What was encouraging about today’s discussions was that researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers and industry leaders are often tackling similar barriers. By bringing those perspectives together, we can better understand how to move promising innovations from evidence into everyday practice.”
Key projects and presentations explored:
- improving cancer and diabetes care through better use of real-time health data
- expanding access to care through virtual and technology-enabled models
- developing digital mental health and behaviour change programs
- exploring how artificial intelligence can support clinical decision-making and access to care
- identifying practical approaches to implementing and scaling digital health innovations.
A recurring theme throughout the day was that successful digital innovation depends as much on understanding people as it does on developing technology.
Liam Woods, General Manager, Digital Enterprise at HCF, said the future of digital health will be determined less by the tools themselves and more by how well they fit into real life.
“The challenge isn’t creating another digital health tool. The challenge is creating one that works in the real world, for real people.
“Researchers are incredibly good at proving something works. The next challenge is adoption. If a solution is difficult to use, doesn’t fit into clinical workflows or adds complexity to people’s lives, even the strongest evidence may not translate into impact.
“Human-centred design has to be part of the conversation from the beginning. People aren’t perfect, healthcare isn’t simple and everyone’s circumstances are different. The most successful innovations are those designed around how people actually behave, not how we hope they will behave.”
The event also explored emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, with discussions focusing on how technology can support clinical decision-making, reduce administrative burden and improve access to care while keeping people at the centre of healthcare.
Dr Pettigrew said the HCF Research Foundation is focused not only on funding high-quality research, but on helping bridge the gap between evidence and implementation.
“The Foundation has always been committed to funding research that improves healthcare delivery. Increasingly, we’re also looking at how we can help create the connections and partnerships that support successful translation.”
“Events like this are important because they bring together researchers, health services, industry and policymakers to share experiences and learn from each other.”
“Ultimately, better translation means better outcomes for Australians.”
Since 2000, the HCF Research Foundation has invested more than $40 million in health services research across more than 170 projects nationwide, supporting research designed to improve health outcomes and strengthen healthcare delivery in Australia.
