The Tech Works. The System Doesn't: Portugal Buys AI Physio, the First AI Complaints Land, and th...

This week on Pulse: Hot Topics, Louise and George look at what happens when digital health stops being a pilot and starts being a system decision — and why, again and again, the technology isn't the hard part. Portugal Buys AI Physiotherapy for an Entire Country — Portugal's National Health Service has contracted Sword Health to make AI-supported physiotherapy available to all 10 million citizens, free after a prescription, prompting the question: are governments shifting from buying AI software to buying AI-delivered healthcare? AI and Accountability: The First Complaints Land — The UK's first complaints about clinicians' inappropriate use of AI have reached professional regulators, arriving well before the evidence base and accountability frameworks are ready. 95% of Health Apps Have No Verifiable Regulatory Approval — Rudolf Wagner's analysis found that of nearly 96,000 apps qualifying as Software as a Medical Device, 95% had no verifiable CE marking or FDA authorisation, leaving consumers with no easy way to know what they're actually using. Doctors Want Wearable Data, But Can't Use It — A new AMA(US) survey found 97% of physicians would review data from a patient's wearable, but no more than 6% have actually integrated it, blocked by missing standards, workflow fit, reimbursement and liability. Virtual Care Could Transform Residential Aged Care — Australian researchers found virtual care between aged care homes and GPs improves access and reduces unnecessary hospital visits, but is undermined by poor integration, unreliable networks and limited staff training — the technology works, the system around it doesn't. With Thanks to Datacom:Download the Executive Briefing Playbook Link ( https://datacom.com/au/en/discover/article... ) Resources:Sword Health partners with Portugal's National Health Service Link ( https://swordhealth.com/newsroom/sword-joi... )First complaints made over clinician use of AI, HSJ via Patient Safety Learning Hub Link ( https://www.pslhub.org/blogs/entry/10031-f... )Ensuring the clinical impact of medical artificial intelligence, Andreoletti et al., Lancet Digital HealthLink ( https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landig.2026.101030 )Analysis of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) Compliance in App Store Applications, Rudolf Wagner Link ( https://www.rudolfwagner.info/post/analysi... )Docs unable to harness wearables data, survey finds, Axios Link ( https://www.axios.com/2026/07/08/doctors-c... )Virtual care could benefit residential homes – study, Pulse+IT Link ( https://www.pulseit.news/aged-community-di... )Virtual care in residential aged care homes, Journal of Medical Internet ResearchLink ( https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e89019 ) Recommendations:Clinicians – be part of the research into clinician use of AI, open globally Link ( https://monash.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form... )Standards Australia telehealth and virtual care standard Link ( https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-standar... )There's An AI For That (TAAFT) newsletter Link ( https://newsletter.theresanaiforthat.com/s... )Age-Friendly Futures newsletter, George Gouzounis Link ( https://agefriendly.beehiiv.com/ )"Welcome to the Land of the Free" — World Cup song by Jason Stills Link ( ../../../../Downloads/   / watch%3fsi=cf4epp6fbc4r91by&v=ft2mlnqhjym&...   ) Visit Pulse+IT.news ( https://www.pulseit.news/ ) to subscribe to breaking digital news, weekly newsletters and a rich treasure trove of archival material. People in the know, get their news from Pulse+IT – Your leading voice in digital health news. Follow us on LinkedIn Louise ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiseschaper/ ) | George ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgeorgemargelis/ ) | Pulse+IT ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/pulseitnews/ )Follow us on BlueSky Louise ( https://bsky.app/profile/drlouiseschaper.b... ) | George ( https://bsky.app/profile/drgeorgemargelis.... ) | Pulse+IT ( https://bsky.app/profile/pulseit.bsky.social )Send us your questions [email protected] ( [email protected] )Production by Octopod Productions ( https://octopod.productions/ ) | Ivan Juric ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-juric-oct... ) PULSE Episode 77 July 16, 2026 ★ Episode details: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f746f622 ★ Additional episodes: https://www.pulseit.news/pulsepod/