Insights The Work Behind Digital Health: Why Security, Safety and Reliability Matter

Behind every safe, reliable digital health platform sits a mix of technology, regulation, clinical safety and implementation decisions that patients and clients rarely see. This month, we look at recent work across security at scale, patient communication, interoperability, clinical safety and sector engagement, all aimed at reducing complexity for clients and supporting safe, reliable digital health delivery.

Cybersecurity is now inseparable from clinical governance and continuity of care; disruption to healthcare networks puts patients and services at risk (Australian Digital Health Agency, 2024; Australian Signals Directorate, 2025). In July, the Diginostic Health Platform processed approximately 1.62 million requests, blocked 124,000 threats through security controls, and deployed more than 440 security and software updates, while maintaining 100% uptime. This reflects ongoing work in threat monitoring, patch management, endpoint security and identity access management (Audit Office of New South Wales, 2025), designed to reduce the operational burden on client teams.

SMS Sender ID impersonation can make legitimate patient messages look suspicious. Under new industry rules, unregistered Sender IDs are now replaced with "Unverified," risking patient trust (Telecommunications (SMS Sender ID Register) Industry Standard 2025 (Cth); Australian Communications and Media Authority, 2026). Organisations must register their Sender IDs through a participating telecommunications provider to retain their name. Diginostic is ACMA-approved to participate in the SMS Sender ID Register, managing Sender ID registration, authorisation and compliance on behalf of healthcare partners, helping patients recognise official messages as legitimate while reducing administrative burden for clients.

As Australia's healthcare system becomes more digital, standards-based data exchange (FHIR) is key to reducing duplication and improving communication between providers (Australian Digital Health Agency, 2026a). Diginostic team members have completed FHIR training through the Australian Digital Health Agency (2025), strengthening our capability to support clients' integration planning and prepare the platform for a more connected healthcare environment.

Clinical safety shapes how the platform is designed, delivered and operated, from question design to workflows to how change is managed (Australian Digital Health Agency, 2026b). Our team has completed professional development in clinical safety in digital health, supporting earlier identification of risks and more informed implementation decisions for clients.

Our team continues professional development through Australasian Institute of Digital Health branch events, recently gaining exposure to the 2026–27 Federal Budget's digital health priorities and the Share by Default reforms affecting My Health Record and healthcare workflows (Australasian Institute of Digital Health, 2026a, 2026b). This engagement helps us understand how national policy and information-sharing reforms may affect service delivery, bringing broader health-system insight to clients navigating emerging changes.

Digital health readiness is built through a series of connected decisions. Security, patient communication, interoperability and clinical safety all influence how a service performs in practice. Considering them together, and early, helps healthcare organisations plan change with greater clarity and confidence.

If your organisation is reviewing patient communications, preparing an integration, strengthening clinical safety or considering how broader reforms may affect service delivery, speak with the Diginostic team. We can help identify the practical implications, clarify priorities and explore how the Diginostic Health Platform can support your next stage of digital health delivery.

 —  Steph Ghersetti