Sparked Bright Sparks: Oliver Frank

We spoke to Oliver about his involvement in the Sparked Community, here’s what he had to say!

❓What is your background?

Specialist urban general practitioner for 45 years in mainstream general practice

❓ How did you first hear about Sparked and what made you want to become involved?

I first heard about Sparked from the RACGP, on whose clinical informatics committee I have served for 35 years.

I wanted to become involved in Sparked because I believe that implementation of FHIR offers the best chance yet of enabling electronic clinical information systems in all parts of the health care system to exchange data easily.

❓ What do you see as the best outcomes that Sparked has delivered or is working towards?

The best outcome, that has already started to be delivered, is easier and better exchange of clinical and administrative data between health professionals and health care organisations. 

Another best outcome is that through its excellent leadership and management Sparked has brought together the clinical informatics community to work together to solve our common problems.   

❓ How is Sparked different to projects you’ve been involved in before?

A notable difference has been the visible commitment from government to this project, including having its staff attend and actively participate at all of the meetings. 

Other notable differences have been the policy of making all of the materials and information available publicly, to enable those with any interest to participate, and the high frequency of meetings of the various working groups, that has helped to maintain the momentum of the project. 

❓ What is something you’ve learnt from being part of the Sparked community?

That it is possible to get large numbers of clinical, technical and government people all to commit to working together towards an agreed goal.

❓ Can you share one of your favourite or memorable moments from participating in Sparked?

Seeing and hearing that our allied health colleagues are participating.

❓ What excites you most about the future with Sparked?

As a practising GP, the possibility of being able to access information about my patients easily irrespective of which health professional or health care organisation collected or generated it. 

❓ What’s something unexpected that you’ve learnt/been a part of/connected with through Sparked?

Its excellent organisation and staff.

❓ How would you explain Sparked to someone not yet involved?

It is a program that is working to address the current problem that clinical and administrative information about people receiving health care is held in silos.

❓ What piece of advice would you share to someone who may not yet be a part of Sparked?

Supporting the Sparked program and participating in it whatever way you can is in the best interests of your patients and of your profession .

❓ If you had to describe Sparked in three words, what would they be?

Energising, excited, collaborative.

❓ If Sparked had a theme song, what would it be?

Now you are tempting me.

Climb Ev’ry Mountain – Finale from the Sound of Music

Hopefully not: Ian Dury and the Blockheads..Delusions of Grandeur

❓ Describe Sparked using only emojis

🐙 🏋️ 🧨📣