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PULSE
PULSE+IT
50 episodes
58 minutes ago
PULSE, the podcast, produced by Pulse+IT and hosted by digital health legends Louise Schaper and George Margelis, is an enlightening, entertaining look at global digital health trends and current debates with our hosts’ deep takes on all the latest news in digital health.
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All content for PULSE is the property of PULSE+IT and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
PULSE, the podcast, produced by Pulse+IT and hosted by digital health legends Louise Schaper and George Margelis, is an enlightening, entertaining look at global digital health trends and current debates with our hosts’ deep takes on all the latest news in digital health.
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Health & Fitness
Technology
Episodes (20/50)
PULSE
Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Bonus Show

Welcome to Pulse: Year in Review, where Louise and George unpack the big stories from Pulse+IT’s 2025 Year in Review series.


Segment 3: AI and the rise of Virtual Care


Resources:

  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Australian digital health Link
  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: New Zealand digital health Link
  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Allied health breaking new ground Link
  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Community and Aged Care Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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4 hours ago
20 minutes

PULSE
Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Part II

Welcome to Pulse: Year in Review, where Louise and George unpack the big stories from Pulse+IT’s 2025 Year in Review series.


Segment 1: Aged Care’s Digital Reckoning


Segment 2: Allied Health’s Breakthrough Year


Resources:

  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Allied health breaking new ground Link
  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Community and Aged Care Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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3 days ago
40 minutes

PULSE
Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Part I

Welcome to Pulse: Year in Review, where Louise and George unpack the big stories from Pulse+IT’s 2025 Year in Review series.


Segment 1: AI goes mainstream


Segment 2: Modernisation, Standards, and the Path to Integration


Segment 3: Risk, Governance & its Relationship to Innovation


Resources:

  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: Australian digital health Link
  • Pulse+IT 2025 Year in Review: New Zealand digital health Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.

Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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1 week ago
41 minutes

PULSE
Healthcare’s Trust Paradox: AI Scribes, Augmented Humans, and the Rise of “Influencer Medicine”

Welcome to Pulse: Hot Topics, where Louise and George unpack the big shifts shaping healthcare right now - from billion-dollar hype to human-level trust.


Are AI Scribes The Billion-Dollar Burnout Band-Aid?

Doctors adore them, investors can’t stop funding them - We dig into the paradox of technology that makes clinicians happy but might not be improving productivity—and why transparency is becoming urgent as these tools expand into agentic workflows.


Chatbots in Therapy: When AI Joins the Session

From therapists secretly using ChatGPT mid-session, to patients uploading their medical records for advice, and one founder shutting down his AI therapy app over safety fears — can AI-mediated care ever truly be therapeutic?


New Zealand’s Digital Déjà Vu

After a tough 2024, New Zealand’s back with a 10-year digital health plan, a new Centre for Modernisation, and a promise of one innovation a month. But with no funding announcement and an election looming, is this genuine commitment or just another round of hopeful planning? Tender watch is on.


MIT’s Top 10 Breakthrough Technologies

MIT Technology Review’s annual list has brain–computer interfaces voted readers’ #11 pick. Are BCIs about to finally enter their translation era? And would George drill a hole in his head for the tech?


The BMJ vs. TikTok Medicine

What happens when money, marketing, medicine, and misinformation collide? Raffael Heiss can tell you as he’s mapped it. Spoiler alert: it’s not god. Tina Purnat argues we can't regulate this away—we need to recognise the information environment as a determinant of health.


Resources:

  • AI Scribes paper, NEJM AI Link
  • NZ DH Strategy, Pulse+IT Story Link
  • MIT Technology Review’s Breakthrough Tech List Link
  • Public health challenges of ‘medical influencers’ BMJ Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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3 weeks ago
45 minutes

PULSE
You, Me & AI. David Fraile Navarro on triadic care in the clinical consultation

Welcome to Pulse: Amplify, where we sit down with the leaders and changemakers shaping the future of health. 


What happens when AI becomes a valued third party in the clinical consultation between a clinician and the patient? George and Louise sit down with author and postdoctoral research fellow Dr David Fraile Navarro to discuss the British Medical Journal special on generative AI in the clinical encounter.


Resources:

  • Connect with David on LinkedIn Link
  • BMJ special on Generative AI and the Clinical Encounter Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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4 weeks ago
34 minutes

PULSE
Elon’s promise of surgical robots, nanobots, D2C blood tests: innovation, hype and health equity

Welcome to Pulse: Hot Topics, where Louise and George unpack the big shifts shaping healthcare right now. 


From Elon Musk’s claim that Tesla’s Optimus robot will soon have superhuman surgical skills, to scientists who are quietly making real breakthroughs with microscopic nanorobots, we separate spectacle from science. 


We look at the rise of at-home blood testing, unpack OpenAI’s accelerating push into healthcare, and celebrate Rahma Health’s double win at the Telstra Business Awards.


Along the way, Louise and George explore what’s hype, what’s helpful, and what’s actually happening behind the headlines — with their usual blend of sharp analysis, laughter, and a touch of existential dread about superhuman AI.


Resources:

  • Microscopic medical robots Nature article
  • At home blood tests, Dr Bertalan Mesko Medical Futurist article
  • Rhama Health innovation win Pulse+IT article
  • TGA Digital mental health survey Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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1 month ago
43 minutes

PULSE
Dr Bhavesh Patel on the AI Avatar Surgeon: Reimagining Patient Communication in Paediatric Care

Welcome to Pulse: Amplify, where we sit down with the leaders and changemakers shaping the future of health. 


What happens when a paediatric surgeon who grew up programming on green-screen computers decides to create an AI version of himself? In this fascinating episode, George and Louise sit down with Associate Professor Bhavesh Patel, a senior paediatric surgeon in Brisbane who isn't waiting for AI to transform healthcare—he's actively building it


Resources:

  • Connect with Bhavesh on LinkedIn Link
  • Bhavesh’s website Link
  • See Bhavesh’s AI Avatar in action YouTube Link 


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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1 month ago
33 minutes

PULSE
ChatGPT Loses Its Medical License & NHS Digital Safety Scandal

Welcome to Pulse: Hot Topics, where Louise and George unpack the big shifts shaping healthcare right now. 


Australian MedTech Innovator Wins PM’s Prize
A Perth-based researcher-engineer-pathologist wins the Prime Minister’s Prize for New Innovators with two real-world solutions — one that makes finding veins as easy as using a stud finder, and another putting “heart health in a box.” Proof that Australian innovation is alive, practical, and personal. Congrats Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo!


ChatGPT Loses Its ‘Medical License’
OpenAI has clipped ChatGPT’s wings, banning personalised medical advice after legal and ethical backlash. We unpack what really changed, the mental health controversies driving the decision, and whether we’re throwing out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to AI in healthcare.


AI Drug Development: Promise, Progress, or Just Hype?
Billions have poured into AI-driven drug discovery — yet the much-touted pipeline of miracle medicines still hasn’t arrived. We look at why biology keeps humbling the algorithms, why hype outruns results, and what needs to change before AI truly delivers its pharmaceutical revolution.


Femtech: The Oura Ring’s Pregnancy Breakthrough
A study of over 10,000 pregnancies using data from the Oura Ring gives us the most detailed physiological map of pregnancy ever — all from wearable tech. We explore what this means for women’s health, early warning signs, and whether constant monitoring brings comfort or anxiety.


NHS AI Blueprint: Regulation Before Revolution

The UK’s NHS unveils a new AI regulation blueprint promising safer, faster adoption of AI across the health system. We discuss whether the world’s most-watched health service has found the right balance between innovation and accountability.


NHS Digital Safety Scandal

A jaw-dropping study finds that more than 70% of digital health tools in the NHS have no documented safety assurance. We break down what that means for patients, why safety can’t be optional, and what other countries — including Australia — should learn from this wake-up call.


Resources:

  • Prime Minister’s Science Prize Winner Pulse+IT story link
  • Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo LinkedIn
  • AI Drug Development – turns out it’s hard! Sick Economics article
  • FemTech: Oura Ring & Pregnancy study Research Paper
  • NHS Digital Safety Crisis study: JMIR link
  • Global Health Connector Online Summit 18-19 November. FREE to register Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.

Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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1 month ago
42 minutes

PULSE
The case for social prescribing integration into electronic medical records

Welcome to Pulse: Amplify, where we sit down with the leaders and changemakers shaping the future of health. 


In today’s show George and Louise chat with Professor Peter Brooks (clinician academic, health systems & workforce policy), Dr Claire Smith (retired GP; social & environmental determinants advocate), and Dr Frank Nicklason (geriatrician, Tasmanian Health Service) on how social prescribing can be integrated into electronic medical records and why this could be a game changer for clinicians and individuals.


Resources:

  • A call to integrate social prescribing into health reforms: Croakey article
  • Social prescribing: bringing community back to health? Link
  • A comparison of social prescribing approaches across twelve high-income countries Link
  • Effectiveness of Social Prescribing for Mental Health Across Care Intensity Needs: A Pre-Post Evaluation in Australia Link
  • The Whitehall Studies and Michael Marmot Link

Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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1 month ago
29 minutes

PULSE
Measuring What Matters: Maturity Tests, Miracle Blood Tests, and the Great Health Data Grab

Welcome to Pulse: Hot Topics, where Louise and George unpack the big shifts shaping healthcare right now. 


Digital Health Maturity: Measuring What Matters
Is your health system truly digitally mature — or just good at buying software? We dig into the global frameworks that could finally separate progress from PR.


Verily Me: Google’s Bid for Your Health Life
A free app that knows your medical history, interprets your blood tests, and gives you health advice — what could possibly go wrong?


The GLP-1 Economy: From Gold Rush to Ground Game
The weight-loss drug boom is cooling — but who’s cashing in next? Inside the business model pivot reshaping obesity care and chronic health.


Melanoma Risk Calculator: Precision Prevention Down Under
An Australian tool predicts your personal skin-cancer risk. 


Galleri Blood Test: The 50-Cancer Promise
A single blood draw that could detect 50 cancers — miracle of modern medicine or the next overhyped moonshot?


Resources:

  • Global Digital Health Partnership Maturity Assessments Link
  • Melanoma Risk Calculator: Pulse+IT link
  • Joe McDonald’s book, FHIR and Loathing in Las Vegas – Link

Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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2 months ago
39 minutes

PULSE
Joe McDonald on why “Too Big To Fail” Health IT projects are destined for failure

Welcome to Pulse: Amplify, where we sit down with the leaders and changemakers shaping the future of health. 


Today we have a frank and fun conversation with UK author Professor Joe McDonald who has just released a book –FHIR and Loathing in Las Vegas: Collected Essays on the Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychopathology of Big IT. 


Joe’s anthology of essays, written over a 13 year timespan track the highs, the lows, the optimism, the realities, the struggles, of the digital transformation of the NHS. George and Louise talk with Jo about some of those learnings, his thoughts on AI, data standards, the future of healthcare, and his advice for others who are passionate about changing the system for the better.


Follow Joe on LinkedIn


Resources:

  • Joe’s book, FHIR and Loathing in Las Vegas – Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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2 months ago
35 minutes

PULSE
No Surgeon, No Physio, No Problem? The Future of You

Welcome to Pulse: Hot Topics, where Louise and George unpack the big shifts shaping healthcare right now. 


AI Physio: No Humans Required? An AI physiotherapist just earned regulatory approval to diagnose and treat patients entirely on its own. Europe says it’s safe — but would you trust an algorithm with your rehab?


Remote Surgery Goes Real. A Canadian team has completed the world’s first fully remote neurointerventional procedure — the surgeon wasn’t even in the same hospital. Star Trek, or the start of a new era in emergency care?


The Evidence to Shift from Patients to Partners. The Society for Participatory Medicine is done with preaching and ready to prove it. Their new CHAMP initiative aims to measure collaboration in care — because “nice idea” isn’t enough anymore.


The NHS ‘Online Hospital’. The UK calls it a “bold new model of care” a national virtual hospital launching in 2027. Louise calls it “telehealth 2.0.” Is this progress, politics, or déjà vu with better branding?


AI That Predicts Your Future Health. A model in Nature says it can forecast your risk of 1,000 diseases decades ahead; another in GigaScience claims to predict any health event, any time. Would you want to know when you’re going to die?


Resources:

  • Society for Participatory Medicine CHAMP Initiative Link
  • AI Prediction Model, Delphi-2M Published in Nature Link
  • AI Prediction Model, ETHOS Published in GigaScience Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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2 months ago
45 minutes

PULSE
Rohan Mead & the Business Council of Australia on why Australia needs a bold vision, underpinned by technology, to fix healthcare

Welcome to Pulse: Amplify, where we sit down with the leaders and changemakers shaping the future of health. 


Today we’re thrilled to be joined by Rohan Mead, chief author of the Business Council of Australia’s Health and Care Blueprint, Chair of the BCA Health and Care Services Committee and Australian Unity chief executive.


Across 140 recommendations in 6 reform pillars, the Business Council of Australia’s Health and Care Blueprint lays out a bold vision: to modernise our fragmented system, boost productivity, and unlock billions in savings through digital transformation, smarter use of data, and the safe adoption of AI.


Together, we unpack:

  • Why BCA wrote the Blueprint, what’s the sense of urgency around health reform
  • The demographic trends impacting health
  • Why digital transformation is key
  • Why it’s time to centre healthcare around the consumer
  • Investing in interoperability and role of governments
  • Changing the power dynamics of healthcare
  • How we build new business models for healthcare
  • The clinical demarcation changes needed to help fix healthcare
  • AI, regulation and consent – what’s the right model?


Resources:

  • Supporting a Healthy and Productive Nation, Business Council of Australia – Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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2 months ago
40 minutes

PULSE
The True Cost of Misinformation and Australia's Time HealthTech Moment

Pulse has a brand-new format — Hot Topics only! Louise and George dive straight into the biggest stories shaping digital health right now.


The cost of lies: From the US President’s paracetamol claim to Tina Purnat’s new Lancet paper, we explore why misinformation isn’t just a trust issue but a global operational and financial burden.


Wearables grow up: A fresh NEJM survey shows wearables are moving from gimmicks to clinical tools — but will insurers, EHRs, and workflows catch up?


Aussie pride: Nine Australian companies make Time’s 2025 Top HealthTech list. From AI to aged care, we unpack how local innovators are scaling globally.


Why doctors hate their EPRs: A new UK survey confirms what many clinicians already know — clunky systems slow care. But implementation may matter more than the software itself.


One scan, two diagnoses: Australian researchers unveil an AI that predicts cardiovascular risk from mammograms — doubling the impact of routine screening.


Resources:

Gerontology conference in Hong Kong Link

Navigating information space: the role of health-care providers — The Lancet Primary Care Link

The information environment as a determinant of health Link

Wearable Health Technologies Are on the Rise — NEJM Catalyst

Time’s World’s Top HealthTech Companies of 2025 Link

UK EPR Usability Survey Report Link

Australian-developed AI algorithm predicts cardiovascular risk using mammograms —Pulse+IT

ADHA Digital Health Adviser roles. Applications close 16 October Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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3 months ago
43 minutes

PULSE
Dr Charlotte Blease on how our humanness undermines the delivery of healthcare and how AI could help

In this episode of Pulse, we launch our new alternating format with a deep-dive interview. Louise and George are joined by Dr Charlotte Blease, Associate Professor in Health Informatics at Uppsala University and researcher in Digital Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, to discuss her newly released book Dr Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us and How AI Could Save Lives.


Charlotte argues that our very humanness—the biases, blind spots, and emotional complexities of both clinicians and patients—can undermine the delivery of healthcare. Through a mix of anthropology, psychology, and digital health insight, she explores how AI could play a role in improving consultations, reducing information asymmetry, and supporting both patients and clinicians in making better decisions.


Together, we cover:

  • Why Charlotte wrote Dr Bot and why it matters now
  • How our nature as humans shapes (and sometimes limits) care delivery
  • The role of technology in empathy, bias, and knowledge management
  • Patients’ stories, from everyday encounters to high-profile examples like Lisa Marie Presley and Serena Williams
  • Whether we can truly remodel healthcare around the patient
  • The promises and pitfalls of big tech, surveillance capitalism, and regulation in health
  • How AI could shift the culture of medicine, super-charge research, and reimagine the future of healthcare

Whether you’re a clinician, innovator, or simply curious about the intersection of medicine and technology, this conversation will get you thinking about the future of care.


Resources:

  • Dr Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us and How AI Could Save Lives – available now, releasing in Australia on 11 October (pre-order available)
  • Follow Dr Charlotte Blease on LinkedIn
  • To win a copy of Dr Bot: rate and review the pod in your app of choice, send us a screenshot at pulsepod@pulseit.news

Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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3 months ago
1 hour 5 minutes

PULSE
ACDC, AI Fertility, Apple Health Tech & Robot Caregivers | Guest: Dr Eric Topol (Part 2)

Interview: Dr Eric Topol (Part 2)
In the second half of our conversation, Dr Eric Topol discusses AI’s promise in reducing clinician burnout, forecasting disease, and reshaping prevention. He also reflects on 13 years since The Creative Destruction of Medicine, shares his favourite transformative tools, and offers advice for clinicians seeking creative careers


Australian CDC – the data angle
Australia is finally moving ahead with its own Centre for Disease Control, promising better national coordination and public health data sharing. But will it deliver transparency and timely insights—or just more bureaucracy?


AI & Fertility – SpermSearchAI delivers first UAE pregnancy
An AI tool developed in Australia, by NeoGenix Biosciences, has achieved its first pregnancy in the UAE. The technology speeds up and improves IVF outcomes, showing how Australian health innovation is going global.


US Information Blocking Enforcement
The US Department of Health and Human Services will finally enforce penalties for health providers and IT vendors who block patient access to their own records. A big step for patient rights, and a reminder of how far Australia still has to go.


Apple’s Health Tech Push
Apple’s new Watch Series 11 now measures blood pressure and the latest AirPods can track heart rate. These updates blur the line between wellness gadgets and medical devices, raising big questions about accuracy, equity, and data overload.


Eli Lilly’s AI Drug Discovery Giveaway
Pharma giant Eli Lilly is making its drug discovery language models publicly available through “Lilly TuneLab.” It’s part open-science, part strategic play—accelerating research while still funnelling insights back to Lilly.


Australian Robotics – Abi the Care Robot
Melbourne startup Andromeda has raised $23m to scale Abi, a friendly robot designed for aged care and children’s hospitals. Founder Grace Brown, just 25, has quickly become one of Australia’s standout young innovators.


Resources:

  • Dr Eric Topol’s book SuperAgers Link
  • Dr Eric Topol’s podcast & substack Ground Truths Link
  • Medicine and the Machine podcast with Dr Abraham Verghese and Dr Eric Topol Link
  • Book recommendation: The AI Valley, Gary Rivlin Link
  • Recommended FREE course: AI in Healthcare from RCSI Link
  • Recommended FREE course: Patient Insights Masterclass by Savvy Corporate Link

Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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3 months ago
1 hour 2 minutes

PULSE
SuperAgers, Big Tech & The Human Side of Interoperability | Guest: Dr Eric Topol

Interview: Dr Eric Topol (Part 1)

We’re joined by Dr Eric Topol—cardiologist, scientist, author, and global digital health leader. In part one, Eric shares his journey from clinician to digital health pioneer, his vision for “SuperAgers,” and why genomics and personalised medicine could redefine how long—and how well—we live

Chatbots for Patients

We discuss the Wall Street Journal’s bold claim that chatbots could become part of the medical team. From spotting errors to translating lab results and reminding patients about medications, can they really serve as low-risk, always-on companion? Questions remain around accuracy, empathy, and whether they truly add value or just more noise.


The Human Side of Interoperability

Inspired by Amy Gleason’s LA Times op-ed, we look at the personal impact of fragmented health systems. Her daughter’s care journey shows how disconnected records hinder outcomes—and how AI uncovered a hidden opportunity. Should we lean into more personal stories to communicate to a wider audience?


Meta & Who Owns Your Health Data?

A San Francisco jury found Meta guilty of illegally harvesting data from millions of Flo app users—menstrual cycles, ovulation, even pregnancy intentions. The ruling highlights urgent questions: Who really owns health data, and what rights do patients have when tech giants treat it like ad fuel?


Patient Consent in the Age of AI

Consent forms are broken—static, outdated, and unfit for the AI era. We unpack Y. Tony Yang’s American Journal of Bioethics piece arguing for “dynamic consent,” accountability frameworks, and real patient understanding. Without rethinking consent, healthcare risks losing trust as AI tools grow more influential


Black Box for Aged Care

What if aged care had a “black box,” like aviation? Sensors, AI, and monitoring systems could flag risks before crises hit. A Pulse+IT blog argues for shifting from reactive to proactive care, but business models and adoption lag behind. We debate whether the sector can finally move from inquiry to prevention


Resources:

  • Louise’s LinkedIn poll on gen AI use for health research Link
  • Dr Eric Topol’s book SuperAgers Link
  • Y. Tony Yang’s American Journal of Bioethics Article on Patient Consent Link
  • Aged Care’s Black Box in Pulse+IT Link
  • Amy Gleason’s parental perspective on the need for health data interoperability Link

Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.

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3 months ago
1 hour 16 minutes

PULSE
From Telecare's Big Exit to ChatGPT-5: Healthcare's Transformation Accelerates with the Commoditisation of AI Scribes

Telecare Acquisition by Teladoc: US telehealth giant Teladoc Health acquires Australian virtual care clinic Telecare in a rare successful exit for the local digital health startup scene. The hosts discuss implications for Australia's startup ecosystem and the significance of this $2.57 billion company's investment in local innovation.

 

Boots At-Home Test Kits:  UK pharmacy chain Boots launches 13 at-home testing kits that integrate with the NHS app, raising questions about clinical utility, health equity, and the transformation of retail healthcare. The discussion explores whether consumer demand justifies bypassing traditional healthcare pathways.

 

BUPA Genetic Testing Initiative:  Health insurer BUPA rolls out a £300 genomic health toolkit offering medication response testing and disease risk assessment. The hosts debate whether this signals the arrival of personalised medicine or represents another way to monetise the "worried well."

 

FDA-Approved AI Wearable for Essential Tremor:  The Felix Neuro AI wristband receives FDA approval as the first AI-powered device to treat essential tremor through real-time electrical pulse therapy. The technology demonstrates promising results with potential applications for other neurological conditions.

 

AI Scribes Market Consolidation and Regulation Epic's entry into the AI scribe market is the biggest signal yet of the commoditisation of AI Scribe technology, while regulatory challenges emerge around patient consent, medical device classification, and clinical responsibility. The hosts explore how market consolidation could concentrate control among big tech players.

 

ChatGPT-5 in Healthcare OpenAI launches ChatGPT-5 with explicit healthcare applications, featuring training from 250 physicians and patient testimonials. The discussion examines the potential for disrupting information asymmetry between patients and clinicians while addressing concerns about bias and hallucinations.

 

Resources:

TGA guidance on when scribes are medical devices Link

ACSQHC Pragmatic advice for clinicians on using AI Link

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Safe and Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Health Care – Legislation and Regulation Review: Final Report Link

 

Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material.  People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.

 

Follow us on LinkedIn  Louise  |  George  |  Pulse+IT

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Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

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4 months ago
1 hour 4 minutes

PULSE
Bringing Joy to Medicine with Participatory Medicine. Guest: Dr Danny Sands (Part 2)

GenAI as Therapist A New York Times op-ed explores how people are using ChatGPT for therapeutic conversations and emotional processing, raising questions about whether AI companions represent innovative digital self-care or a concerning workaround for unmet mental health needs.


USA's "Make HealthTech Great Again" Pledge The White House hosted a summit with 60+ tech companies to sign a HealthTech Ecosystem pledge promoting data interoperability and AI in healthcare, though questions remain about whether this represents genuine reform or just encourages data sharing with private platforms while healthcare infrastructure gets decimated.


Australia Gets Tough on De-Identification Australia's Privacy Commissioner issued new guidance clarifying that supposedly "de-identified" health data used for AI training may still qualify as personal information, potentially ending the era of inadequately anonymised data sharing and pushing the industry toward synthetic data or on-premise learning.


OpenAI's Kenya Study: Clinical Copilot in Action OpenAI's real-world study with Penda Health in Kenya showed their GPT-4o clinical copilot reduced diagnostic errors by 16% and treatment errors by 13% across 40,000 patient visits, demonstrating measurable improvements when AI is properly integrated into clinical workflows.


George and Louise chat with Dr Danny Sands - Pioneer of participatory medicine, discusses the origins of the e-patient movement and participatory medicine, from early email communication with patients and exploring how to maintain human connection while embracing technological advancement

Connect with Danny on LinkedIn


Resources:

NY Times I’m a Therapist. ChatGPT Is Eerily Effective Link

Australian Privacy Commissioner ruling Link

Sands (2025) From Internet to Artificial Intelligence (Al) Bots: Symbiotic Evolutions of Digital Technologies and e-Patients Link


Shout outs to: Liz Salmi, ePatientDave, Danny Sands, Ian Opperman, Gavin Andrews, Dr Amit Thacker Africa Health Business


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

Show more...
4 months ago
1 hour 11 minutes

PULSE
Participatory Medicine and the Power of “I don’t know”. Guest: Dr Danny Sands (Part 1)

George and Louise chat with Dr Danny Sands - Pioneer of participatory medicine discusses the origins of the e-patient movement and participatory medicine, from early email communication with patients and exploring how to maintain human connection while embracing technological advancement

Connect with Danny on LinkedIn


Amazon launches Pathology - Amazon enters the healthcare diagnostics space with at-home blood testing services in India, leveraging their logistics expertise to challenge traditional healthcare providers.


UK Biobank - The world's largest human imaging project completes scanning 100,000 volunteers over 11 years, with AI analysing data that would have taken thousands of years to process manually.


Wearables and Regulation - The US FDA warns Whoop about their unapproved blood pressure insights while both UK and US governments push for widespread wearable adoption, highlighting the blurred lines between wellness devices and medical equipment.


OpenEvidence & Bias in Medical Research - The AI medical platform used by 40% of US doctors raises $210M but faces criticism for perpetuating gender bias, particularly around hormone replacement therapy misinformation.


AI in Everyday Healthcare - South Australian aged care provider ECH dramatically improves care plan accuracy from 35% to 92% using AI, while Monash Health seeks AI clinical coding solutions to improve efficiency and address workforce pressures.


Shout Out: 

Complete the Australian Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Survey and contribute to help shape the national AI agenda


Resources:

Wired (2010) The Blood Test Gets a Makeover Link

George Gouzounis’ AI in Aged Care Newsletter Link

Dr Danny Sands (1998) Clinical E-Mail Guidelines Link

Dr Tom Ferguson’s (2007) whitepaper e-Patients: How they can help us heal health care Link

Journal of Participatory Medicine Link

The Whole Early Catalog Link

Sands (2025) From Internet to Artificial Intelligence (Al) Bots: Symbiotic Evolutions of Digital Technologies and e-Patients Link


Visit Pulse+IT.news to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news.


Follow us on LinkedIn Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Follow us on BlueSky Louise | George | Pulse+IT

Send us your questions pulsepod@pulseit.news

Production by Octopod Productions | Ivan Juric

Show more...
5 months ago
1 hour 11 minutes

PULSE
PULSE, the podcast, produced by Pulse+IT and hosted by digital health legends Louise Schaper and George Margelis, is an enlightening, entertaining look at global digital health trends and current debates with our hosts’ deep takes on all the latest news in digital health.