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Shared Digital Health Record now set for mid-2026 launch
Te Whatu Ora has announced that patient-consented data sharing through the Shared Digital Health Record (SDHR) will now begin by mid-2026, accessible via existing portals in general practice, telehealth, urgent, and emergency care.
The first implementation phase, which will allow general practices to share read-only data from their practice management systems, was initially set for June 2025 but has since been delayed – first to December 2025 and now to mid-2026.
An early-adopter pilot with selected practices will run in late 2025 to test and refine the information-sharing process and communications, according to Te Whatu Ora's update this month.
Practice information sharing will scale in early to mid-2026 with support from primary health organisations, before the system is opened up for nationwide use.
Australia expands FHIR training
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has launched four updated training courses to prepare the country's healthcare workforce for My Health Record's transition to FHIR.
Developed with HL7 Australia, the courses cover FHIR fundamentals, project management implementation, SMART on FHIR applications, and switching from HL7 v2. The ADHA has already trained more than 1,000 participants and will continue to fully fund the programme for clinicians, developers, administrators, and other health professionals.
ADHA CEO Amanda Cattermole said the refreshed training is building "capacity, confidence and momentum for lasting, system-wide improvement." The new format combines self-paced online learning with expert-led sessions.
More training opportunities are expected from November 2025.
Toowoomba hospitals adopt digital pre-surgery pathway
MyProcedure, a perioperative care group in Toowoomba, Queensland, has launched a digital pathway that allows patients to complete health assessments online before surgery.
Developed in partnership with patient engagement platform Personify Care, the new system replaces paper forms and phone calls by digitising patient intake and triage, enabling earlier identification of risks and improving preparedness. Clinicians receive timely, accurate data, while staff are relieved of manual follow-up tasks.
The digital pathway, which is expected to cut surgery cancellations, enhance safety and efficiency, and give patients greater confidence, has been rolled out at St Andrews Toowoomba Hospital and St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
