Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Sonography represented in Australian National Digital Health Initiative
As part of Australia’s federal digital health strategy, the Department of Health and Aged Care has commissioned CSIRO to develop a National Terminology Data Set, streamlining communication across healthcare providers.
Allied health representatives gathered in Melbourne on 11-12 March for an intensive gap mapping exercise, refining the national clinical terminology database. Representing sonographers is Sandy Maranna, FASA, nominated by the Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) to ensure sonography is integrated into the standardised language of Australian healthcare.
In preparation, Sandy collaborated with ASA’s policy team and seven ASA special interest groups, covering cardiac, vascular, paediatric, obstetric, breast, general, and musculoskeletal sonography. This initiative aims to unify clinical language across digital systems, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in healthcare communication.
Sandy was also able to participate in the Sparked Leadership Clinical Design Group Community Co-Design Workshop in Adelaide on 18-19 February, this event was hosted by Allied Health Professionals Australia (AHPA). Engaging with key stakeholders, including the Department of Health and Department of Digital Health, Sandy contributed to discussions shaping Australia’s digital health future.
This work is ongoing, and the contributions of all ASA members involved are instrumental in ensuring a seamless, standardised approach to healthcare communication.