Telehealth Pioneer Dr. Silvia Pfeiffer Takes the Helm as Chief Product Officer at CARED

With our commitment to expanding access to high-quality telehealth services throughout Australia, we’re proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Silvia Pfeiffer as the new Chief Product Officer at CARED.

Dr. Pfeiffer's addition to the team marks a significant milestone for CARED as we strive to lead the delivery of Australian healthcare into a brighter future. To reach this goal, we know we need the industry’s brightest minds.  

With an illustrious career spanning over two decades in web video technology and telehealth, Dr. Pfeiffer will spearhead our mission and help roll out innovative telehealth solutions that will solve some of the nation’s biggest healthcare challenges.    

In Australia, accessing healthcare represents a significant hurdle, especially for people living with certain conditions and disabilities. The most recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report highlights that one in five Australians live with a disability, and many face barriers in accessing healthcare due to mobility issues, distance, and availability of specialised services.

Because telehealth can be delivered remotely it removes these barriers, ensuring clients receive timely and consistent care regardless of their location, while also reducing the strain on our overburdened healthcare system. But before telehealth can have maximum impact, we first need to develop more intelligently designed platforms.  

That’s why CARED is launching a groundbreaking telehealth platform that emphasises ease-of-use and seamlessly matching healthcare providers and clients. Our vision is to create a world where healthcare is efficient, effective, and available to everyone whenever and wherever they need it.  

It’s this vision that inspired Dr. Pfeiffer to join our team and take the project to new heights. In this exclusive Q&A, Dr. Pfeiffer shares insights into her remarkable career journey, her motivations for joining CARED, and her bold vision for the platform’s future.

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Q&A with Dr. Silvia Pfeiffer:

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and career history?

Dr. Pfeiffer: Sure! I have a PhD in computer science, which started my journey as a computer scientist. I moved to Australia as a postdoc at CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), focusing on automated captioning and AI. In 2006, I founded my first startup, an online video search company, right when YouTube was starting. Then I worked at Mozilla and Google, contributing to the development of video standards on the web. At Google, I was part of the team that developed accessible video players in YouTube and Google Chrome. I worked on the HTML5 and WebRTC standards, which led me back to CSIRO to develop telehealth technology. This eventually became Coviu, a startup I spun out in 2018.

Q: What has been your favorite achievement in your career so far?

Dr. Pfeiffer: Creating Coviu and seeing it grow into a successful telehealth platform has been incredibly rewarding. Additionally, contributing to the development of video standards and accessible video on the web, which are now used by platforms like YouTube and Netflix, is something I'm very proud of.

Q: What attracted you to CARED?

Dr. Pfeiffer: My conversations with the CARED team about their mission and vision were truly inspiring. The focus on accessibility and fair access to care, especially for NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) participants, resonates deeply with me. At Coviu, we provided the technology, but with CARED, I'm excited to work directly with care providers and patients. This comprehensive approach gives me a better understanding of the entire care pathway, which I find fascinating.

Q: What unique qualities do you bring to the CARED team?

Dr. Pfeiffer: My background spans both technology and healthcare, which helps me bridge the gap between these fields. Over the years, I have gained a deep understanding of building scalable and flexible software solutions that cater to both clinicians and patients. With my experience in accessibility and standardisation, I’m committed to ensuring our technology truly benefits users. As CPO, I am really looking forward to diving back into the tech side, collaborating closely with our team to develop innovative solutions.

Q: What excites you most about CARED's product?

Dr. Pfeiffer: The potential to significantly impact the lives of people with disabilities is exciting and I’d say profoundly fulfilling. CARED's ability to offer both in-person and telehealth services through a single platform is a game-changer. Many people prefer to meet their clinician in person initially and then continue with telehealth, and CARED supports this continuity of care. This integrated approach, coupled with our commitment to accessibility, offers a unique value proposition.

Q: What is your vision for CARED?

Dr. Pfeiffer: I envision CARED becoming an essential tool for anyone on the NDIS and those with disabilities or specific conditions. My goal is for us to be the go-to application that helps patients who struggle to access traditional care. Making our technology accessible and user-friendly can address the major gaps we see in healthcare delivery and ensure everyone receives the care they need. Long-term, I really see CARED playing a crucial role in transforming healthcare delivery through tech and innovation, and that is what I want to be part of.

Q: How do you see healthcare changing in the next five years?

Dr. Pfeiffer: Certainly, there will be significant changes driven by technology. AI, for example, will further support clinicians' ability to take better notes and provide more accurate diagnoses. The Australian Digital Health Agency's health information exchange will allow patients to see all their health information in one place and share it with their care team. This interoperability and AI will fundamentally change how care is delivered, which makes it more integrated and efficient.

Q: What are some essential steps CARED should take to stay ahead in the industry?

Dr. Pfeiffer: We need to be early adopters of interoperable technology and artificial intelligence. This includes integrating with the health information exchange being developed by the Digital Health Agency and adopting AI to improve data standardisation and care delivery. It's a big challenge that requires significant investment, but the drive to innovate is strong at CARED, and we're ready to lead the way in digital healthcare solutions.

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Dr. Pfeiffer's extensive experience and visionary approach make her a priceless addition to the CARED team. Her commitment to accessibility and innovation will drive CARED forward, ensuring that we provide the best possible care, especially for people living with disabilities and specific health conditions.

CARED isn't just a platform, it's a promise – a promise to make high-quality healthcare accessible for all Australians whenever and wherever they need it. It’s a groundbreaking project that’s gaining momentum fast, especially with Dr. Pfieffer at the helm, so watch this space for more exciting developments!

Interested in learning more about how CARED can support you or your loved ones? Or maybe you want increased access to clients as a healthcare provider? You can visit our website or reach out to our team today to discover how we’re redefining healthcare delivery:

Email us: contact@cared.io

Call Us: 1300 367 117

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