In this episode of Chewing It Over, Jack speaks with Nick, founder of Splose, about the evolution of practice management software, artificial intelligence and the challenges facing modern MSK clinics.
Nick shares his unconventional journey from building websites for allied health professionals in Australia to developing an all-in-one practice management platform. After repeatedly encountering clinicians frustrated by disconnected systems, time-consuming documentation and inefficient administration, he decided to build something different.
The conversation explores how Splose has evolved, particularly following the introduction of AI functionality in 2024. Its AI scribe now extends beyond simple transcription, incorporating patient histories, previous consultations and administrative information to support clinical documentation.
However, Nick is clear that AI should support rather than replace clinical judgement. Jack challenges him on the future of automated objective assessments, the potential for increasingly sophisticated monitoring technologies and the risk of clinicians becoming complacent when reviewing AI-generated records.
They also discuss Splose's expansion into the UK, where the complexity of private medical insurance billing initially presented unexpected challenges. Nick explains how partnerships with Healthcode and ePractice-related providers helped address these barriers.
The discussion broadens into software development, customer feedback, investor expectations and the importance of maintaining a product-led philosophy while scaling a technology business.
Finally, Nick identifies clinician burnout, administrative overload and financial pressures as major challenges facing allied health.
Ultimately, the episode argues that the most valuable healthcare technology isn't necessarily the most autonomous. It's the technology that gives clinicians more time, attention and capacity to care for patients.
5 clinical/professional takeaways
- AI scribes are becoming much more than transcription tools. Integrating previous patient history, consultation information and administrative workflows could make documentation significantly more useful, rather than simply faster.
- Clinical judgement remains essential. AI can help generate and organise documentation, but clinicians must still review and approve their records. Objective assessment is particularly challenging when important findings cannot be reliably captured through audio alone.
- Automation introduces new risks as well as efficiencies. The easier it becomes to produce clinical notes, the easier it may become to approve them without sufficient scrutiny. Saving time must not come at the expense of clinical accuracy.
- Practice management software needs to reflect local healthcare systems. Splose's experience entering the UK demonstrates how billing, private medical insurance and payment processes can become major barriers, even when the underlying clinical software is well received.
- Reducing burnout requires more than technology. Administrative automation can reduce unnecessary work, but it cannot independently solve the emotional, professional and financial pressures facing clinicians. Education, mentorship and appropriate clinical support remain essential.