HealthLink, a major healthcare IT organization in Australia, has acquired the health messaging and eReferrals business of ASX-listed Telstra Health.
“Both Telstra Health and HealthLink will ensure a smooth transition for customers without disruption to services or support. A transition plan has been drawn up and customers are being contacted,” the companies assured customers after signing their sales agreement.
THE GREATER CONTEXT
HealthLink has increased its investments in API and FHIR-based messaging solutions to strategically align itself with the national digital health strategies of the Australian and New Zealand markets.
It has become a key partner with the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, seven of the eight states and territories, several national hospitals and healthcare providers in the transition and use of eReferrals.
Australia’s national referral program My Aged Care ditched fax last year and moved to eReferrals, powered by HealthLink’s SmartForm. The SmartForm technology, integrated into popular GP and specialty clinical systems such as Best Practice, Medical Directory and Genie, is widely adopted in the country. Also last year, HealthLink started digitally delivering referrals for New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.
Meanwhile, Telstra has divested Argus, Connecting Care and e-Referrals as it focuses on connected healthcare, particularly its interoperable solutions offering such as digital hospital platform Kyra and the latest FHIR-based virtual care solution. Virtual health platform.
“This decision is consistent with Telstra Health’s strategy of developing our clinical and interoperable solutions, and collaborating where it makes most sense to deliver the best solutions for our customers,” said Chris Norton, Director of Hospital Care at Telstra Health.