Simon Townsend knows first-hand how digital technology can help save patients’ lives.
He was a senior cardiac physiologist at Prince Charles Hospital for more than 8 years. Here he led a team of physiologists who remotely managed cardiac patients with pacemakers and implanted defibrillators at one of Australia’s largest cardiac health centres.
“We made the transition to digital technology well over a decade ago, and this brought real benefits to patients who came to hospital for their surgery and who then could be monitored remotely for any adjustments that were needed,” says Simon.
“When COVID hit, our cardiac services were already well down the digital path, so we avoided the scramble of adopting online technology which impacted many other areas in health.”
What motivated Simon to get this graduate certificate?
Though he already had a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Public Health, Simon wanted to extend his broader digital health knowledge. So, he enrolled in UQ’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health in 2022 and graduated in 2023.
Simon felt that funding models developed decades ago were lagging behind new technology in health, and he was keen to challenge the status quo.
“Clinically, I am an advanced cardiac physiologist working mainly in cardiac arrhythmias,” he says.
“Our team was often seen as an early adopter and set national and international benchmarks for best practice, but we encountered resistance when we proposed adopting new technology or changes to clinical practice that could provide better and safer services to patients.”
UQ’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health seemed like the perfect avenue for improving the situation.
“I was looking for a course that would not only assist me with the communication aspect of presenting the exact data that decision makers wanted, but also one that would keep me relevant as a clinician – and the graduate certificate has proven ideal,” says Simon.
“I now have the confidence to evaluate digital health scenarios outside of my clinical expertise and apply a variety of lenses to ensure that new and emerging technologies bring an equitable solution to everyone, particularly to people with limited or no access to digital resources.”
Simon’s career since graduating
Simon is now the lead clinical consultant in digital health at Metro South Health, and he believes his postgraduate studies gave him the confidence to take on this new role.
“This job has been a new challenge for me, and I’ve been very excited to be supporting teams across Metro South Health who are looking for ways to provide better care using the possibilities that digital health provides,” he says.
One of the projects he is working on involves improved models of care for residential aged care facilities, GPs and hospital emergency departments to ensure elderly people are not admitted to hospital unnecessarily. Specifically, the project will deliver improved efficiency of clinical documentation and support data collection to provide opportunities for better clinical care.
Simon is also supporting Metro South Health clinicians across a variety of digital clinical workflows.
“We are fortunate to be taking the next step in healthcare delivery, and I am keen to contribute to that change, with patient and clinician experience always at the forefront.”
UQ’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health is delivered by UQ’s Queensland Digital Health Centre, led by Director Professor Clair Sullivan and UQ Business School’s Professor Andrew Burton-Jones.
“This course is ideal for clinicians who see themselves as future clinical information officers, chief medical information officers, chief nursing information officers, or chief allied health officers,” says Clair.
“It will develop their ability to help lead the digital transformation we all need in healthcare today.”
The course is offered fully online, which suits people like Simon who are looking to balance their study with work and family life.
“The program opened my eyes to the possibilities that exist across healthcare with respect to digital health and the role they play in facilitating clinical care changes,” says Simon.
“I came in wanting to fix my problem in my sub-specialty, but I have been able to see the green fields of what can change for more effective and efficient health care, and options for patients and providers to be better informed and connected in the future."
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health