More than 3.6 million babies are born in the United States each year.Approximately 10,000 births per day— but many women don't have access to proper maternity care or even more care. 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable. Even if America pays for it, twice as many Like other high-income countries regarding maternal and child health, our country is in the midst of an obstetric health crisis. Compared to the same country, the United States Maternal mortality and morbidity are high and approximately 50,000 people die every year (Similar to my own experience in 2019), as well as high rates of C-sections, premature births, NICU stays, and poor maternal mental health. In the face of a large-scale shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists, 217 Delivery department closed Since 2011, 36 percent Of all U.S. counties, the designation of obstetric care deserts is most prevalent in rural areas of the Midwest and Southern states.
Maternal health is not the only care crisis currently affecting Americans. Drug use, mental health disorders, and obesity are all on the rise.
Against this backdrop, we are witnessing a major wave. Technology-driven solutions aimed at improving American healthcare. While technology can certainly play a role in stemming the maternal health crisis, it cannot replace in-person care. Babies are not born through an app.
How thoughtful application of technology can improve maternal health outcomes:
- Relieving the massive gynecologist shortage by preserving and maximizing available capacity
- Expanding care to underserved communities
- Detect risks early and provide timely care
- Create a better patient experience by providing on-demand connections to relevant resources and removing friction in interactions with clinical teams
Alleviating the shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists
a 2021 survey According to a survey of obstetrics and gynecology clinics in North America, 40 to 75 percent of obstetricians and gynecologists experience physician burnout. In 2018, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Predicting net shortfalls The number of obstetricians and gynecologists in 2020 was 8,800, which could be 22,000 fewer than the number needed by 2050. These trends are largely due to fewer gynecologists entering the profession and many leaving the practice early due to unsustainable workloads, resulting in the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision As a result, the risk of medical errors is increasing. v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade, and insufficient compensation due to reduced reimbursement. Technology won't solve the problem, but it will help preserve and expand limited obstetrics and gynecology capacity in tandem with expanding the workforce and expanding the role of midwives on the front lines of American obstetric care. can play an important role.
For example, voice-enabled ambient charting solutions can minimize the burden of patient note-taking, free up hours of clinical time, reduce physician burnout, and provide care to more patients. can. Smart scheduling can similarly automate the allocation of appointments to patients with the highest needs while minimizing the loss of clinical time due to no-shows or late cancellations. These solutions already exist, and their adoption needs to be scaled up quickly.
Reach underserved communities
In addition to a nationwide shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists, large hospitals across the country, especially in rural areas, have announced the closure of their maternity wards due to staffing issues, insufficient Medicaid reimbursement, and financial difficulties. There is. March of Dimes is up to 6.9 million women They are deprived of alternatives to obstetric care, forced to travel long distances for care, or risk giving birth in emergency rooms. Data shows that the proportion of women receiving early and appropriate prenatal care is From 76.7 percent in 2019 to 74.9 percent in 2022.
Telemedicine and connected devices such as blood pressure cuffs and fetal Dopplers can extend care beyond the clinic and into the home and community. 50% of standard prenatal visits can be done at home through telemedicine visits leveraging connected devices and advanced monitoring tools, and are now available for high-risk pregnancies. This not only helps provide care to communities with reduced access, but also helps patients with scheduled appointments who face transportation issues, lack of childcare, or difficulty taking time off from work. It also helps improve your ability to attend.
Detect risks early and provide timely care
The duration of maternity care is approximately 46 weeks from conception to the last postpartum visit. Standard prenatal care in the United States consists of 12 to 14 visits per her at defined points during the pregnancy (the last two are postpartum checkups). Model with relatively few changes Since World War II. This means that most of the pregnancies take place at home between visits.
a Commonwealth Fund Research It was shown that more than 50 percent of maternal and pregnancy-related deaths occur after the baby's birth, concentrated in the first six weeks postpartum, and 31 percent occur during pregnancy. The CDC notes: 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable This is a very alarming statistic.
Remote monitoring tools can help replace the current paradigm of episodic care with care that is more complete, continuous, and scaled appropriately to the specific risks to which patients may be vulnerable. Patients can easily track and report early symptoms, allowing healthcare providers to quickly consult clinicians anytime and anywhere to facilitate patient management. Timely care saved my life. And my own near miss with postpartum preeclampsia and her HELLP syndrome inspired me to start this treatment. millie. Millie fundamentally believes that by disseminating information and sending personalized alerts via her mobile app, patients can stay aware of the various risks throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey. believe. Early detection, reporting, and management reduce potential complications.
Improving patient experience
Moms-to-be are especially vulnerable to anxiety due to the unknown, so it's very reassuring to have access to the right care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Technology allows healthcare providers to deliver curriculum and support in a low-cost, high-impact format, reducing the burden on physicians and freeing them to engage with patients at a higher level and focus on providing quality care. Masu. Streamlining operational processes such as eligibility checks, billing inquiries, data reporting, and pre-authorization to remove friction in patient interactions are also easy applications.
Of course, there is a fine line between empowering patients and protecting clinician health. Healthcare providers and clinical staff aren't always able to answer questions within seconds. Attempting to do so can exacerbate burnout, which is already at crisis levels.
Emerging technologies such as AI-enabled inbox management have some promise, but what kinds of questions should they be used for, what monitoring structures might be used, and how should they be built? Determining potential bias in training data requires very careful evaluation.
Bridging the gap with technology-enabled care
When organizations and health systems integrate new technologies, their success depends on whether they can be seamlessly added to the daily routines of frontline clinicians. Clinicians are already stretched thin and are often dealing with acute patients who require their full attention. The right combination of technology-enabled, in-person obstetric care can alleviate the shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists, improve access and outcomes, and create a better patient experience without overwhelming clinicians doing their critical work. It can address many of the challenges you face when it comes to creation. In the face of difficult odds. This is how we must move forward. To build a better maternity care system that serves America's mothers when they need us most.
