Despite the U.S. leading the world in per capita spending on maternity care, it paradoxically has some of the highest rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes among high-income nations. The CDC reports that maternal mortality is on the rise, with nearly 84% of pregnancy-related deaths considered preventable. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) suggests that comprehensive care navigation models could significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality rates by up to 50% and 20%, respectively, highlighting the crucial need for innovative approaches such as digital care navigation for expectant mothers.
Customer experience automation specialists Ushur explains how healthcare automation technology can help.
The power of digital platforms
Digital platforms offer expectant mothers personalised care and support through user-friendly interfaces and AI-driven features. These platforms provide essential resources, including educational materials, timely reminders, and symptom monitoring tools, empowering mothers to confidently manage their pregnancy journeys.
Enhancing care coordination through self-service solutions
Digital self-service solutions improve communication and collaboration among healthcare providers. They include health needs assessments and HRAs to gather data, which is used to create customised care plans and foster personalised relationships, ultimately aiming for better health outcomes.
Leveraging behavioural data insights for better health outcomes
Data analytics play a crucial role in making informed decisions and enhancing maternal health.
AI-powered platforms can identify trends, predict risk factors, and tailor care plans, allowing for more effective interventions and optimal resource allocation, leading to improved maternal and neonatal health.
Improving access to care with conversational AI
Conversational AI is transforming maternal healthcare by enhancing mobile outreach and engagement.
Through AI-powered chatbots and secure mobile platforms, expectant mothers can access personalised support and information anytime, anywhere.
These conversational interfaces provide a user-friendly platform for asking questions, seeking guidance, and receiving real-time assistance, empowering mothers to make informed health decisions.
Best practices to improve maternal access to care
Enable early detection and intervention: Regular prenatal check-ups and preventive care can reduce the likelihood of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Health Risk Assessments can identify and address these issues early, lowering the need for costly medical interventions later.
Improve benefit literacy: Educate members about their healthcare benefits and improve their understanding and access to available services.
Improve care coordination: Assist members with complex medical needs in coordinating care, navigating treatment options, and optimising health outcomes while controlling costs.
Provide health and wellness education: Empower pregnant mothers to take proactive steps to improve their health, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and lowering long-term healthcare costs.
Identify barriers to care: Use Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to detect if a member mentions barriers to receiving care.
Offer solutions to barriers: Automatically respond with information about available resources, such as low or no-cost transportation options when lack of transportation is mentioned.
Improving maternal health equity with personalised digital solutions
Maternal health disparities continue to affect marginalised communities. Black mothers, for instance, face a significantly higher risk of complications, with 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in the U.S.
Addressing these inequities requires culturally competent, personalised solutions that cater to the diverse needs of expectant mothers.
By understanding social determinants of health, healthcare providers and health plans can tailor interventions to resonate with various cultural backgrounds. Leveraging mobile devices and AI can break down access barriers, reaching underserved populations and ensuring every mother receives the care she deserves.
Looking ahead
As we venture further into the digital age, the potential of AI and automation to revolutionise maternal healthcare is immense.
By simplifying interactions between health plans, providers, and expectant mothers through intuitive self-service and digital automation, access to personalised prenatal and postpartum care can be greatly enhanced.
Embracing innovation and collaboration will unlock new possibilities for improving maternal health outcomes, ensuring that every mother receives the care and support she needs.
Read the full blog from Ushur here.
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