A research team in Australia was recently recognised for their efforts in digital health innovation after developing a Patient Consult Summary application.
Collaborators from Monash University, the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health and other partners were handed the Faculty of IT Dean’s Award for Research Team of the Year 2025.
The Patient Consult Summary app is a telehealth tool designed to bridge the communication gap between clinicians and patients as well as improve clinical documentation.
It generates real-time summaries of telehealth appointments, providing patients with a clear and detailed record of what was discussed, planned or agreed upon.
Tested and Trusted
The software already been made available on HealthDirect Australia’s national video-call platform.
It is also supported by the Digital Health CRC and aligns with government health policies, which proves that research can have a direct impact on the way healthcare is delivered at any level.
Dr Laura Bird, a postdoctoral researcher in the Supportive and Palliative Care Unit at Monash Health and the School of Clinical Sciences, said the software is already making a difference.
“Sharing and jointly reviewing consultation summaries, management plans, guidance or test results in real time helps ensure patients fully understand their care,” she said. “It also gives them the chance to ask questions, and improves later recall of important medical information.”
Associate Professor Peter Poon, a clinical lead at the School of Clinical Sciences and Monash Health, also weighed in on the importance of the innovation.
He noted that for a relatively small research group to produce and implement a product now embedded in the national health system is an ‘incredible highlight’ and a moment of pride.
“As a small research team based in supportive and palliative care, we are extremely proud and humbled to have played a significant role in this work,” he said.
“Producing and implementing a product on HealthDirect Australia’s national platform is an incredible highlight, and ensures this work will benefit healthcare patients and practitioners across the country.”
A Model for Future Innovation
While the software is expected to be a game-changer for the Australian health sector, the award was a celebration of teamwork between some of the brightest minds in different fields.
Experts in information technology, clinical sciences, digital health policy and user design worked side by side, bringing different perspectives from their respective institutions.
Developing a digital health tool as sophisticated as the summary app takes a team of experts who understand what patients want and how technology fits into the real world.
They have shown that it is possible for different minds from various sectors to come together to create something that is practical and can stand the test of time.
The Digital Health CRC supported the development of the software. It is now up to them to make sure future research is funded and yields results that’ll help the sector grow even further in the long term.
This is not the first time Monash University has been associated with this type of groundbreaking research. With over 80,000 students across campuses in Australia, Asia and Europe, the university has become a hallmark of excellence when it comes to healthcare innovation.
How Telehealth Providers Can Use the Software
The Patient Consult Summary app was designed with public healthcare in mind, but it also opens up a world of endless possibilities for telehealth providers.
Telehealth providers in Australia have been looking for ways to make consultations more efficient and improve patient engagement, and the app does just that.
The reputable telehealth services featured on comparison platform Medicompare are considered some of the best in the country. They allow patients to schedule appointments with general practitioners (GPs) and access a wide range of other medical support.
However, they could take their services to a new level by incorporating the features on the Patient Consult Summary app into their offering.
For instance, after each consultation, providers could hand patients a written summary of their prescription, treatment plan and details of their medication as discussed during an appointment. That would help patients get a handle on their own health, especially those who have to juggle more than one prescription.
It would also reduce the risk of miscommunication, help patients stick to their care plans and improve continuity of care if a patient decides to switch health professionals or get a second opinion.
The app would improve professionalism among providers and hold them accountable. Providers could use the software to create a documented pathway that patients can always revisit later on, especially those dealing with mental health issues.
With the software in place, consultations can be kept brief, knowing that patients will receive a written summary with all the necessary information from the meeting.
Find out more on our blog.
