How AI could transform the maternal care sector and make healthcare less stressful

Integrating technology into everyday practices could make healthcare safer and less stressful for all parties involved, says Cécile Brosset.

About one in 331 babies born in the US are affected by birth defects, and in 50 per cent of cases, these defects are not detected during ultrasound scans.

This highlights the complexity of foetal medicine and the importance of following precise guidelines, even when sonographers are tired and have performed multiple scans in a day. To ensure the highest quality standards and accurate results, AI technology in healthcare was created to assist healthcare providers.

Over the past few years, several tech companies have prioritised the development and implementation of AI-driven solutions to address healthcare problems.

AI can help assist the healthcare provider by providing a more accurate result for the patient while also taking some of the stress off of the healthcare provider.

With worsening maternal health outcomes in the United States, these recent advancements in AI offer hope to both patients and their healthcare providers.

The latest versions of AI for healthcare can now identify pregnant women who are at risk of experiencing premature birth and other complications.

This enables healthcare providers and patient care teams to take action before it is too late, providing their pregnant patients with health education, medical care, and access to social services to mitigate the risk of negative outcomes.

With the current advancements in the healthcare technology space, there are a number of ways to mitigate risk and improve patient care in the maternal sector.

Automatic image recognition

In an ultrasound exam, a transducer is placed on the skin or inside the body. Ultrasound waves are transmitted through the thin layer of gel into the body. Through automatic image recognition, software is able to automatically identify different characteristics and provide a more accurate result when performing this exam.

This is a necessary advancement in the sonography space because ultrasound’s image quality is affected by speckle noise and physical characteristics of the patient. Previously, practitioners relied on themselves to accurately depict the image made by the ultrasound exam.

By improving the process of performing an ultrasound and incorporating automatic image recognition, the process becomes less time consuming and improves the accuracy and flow of diagnosis. The ultrasound technician is able to use the help of technology to accurately pick out what they are seeing in a much more time efficient manner.

Qualitative access to care for everyone

Maternal foetal medicine specialists responsible for prenatal diagnostics must interpret hundreds of signs visible on ultrasound scans. By giving the healthcare providers on the frontline access to such advanced technology that rely less on the specific training of the practitioner, access to proper care becomes a standard across the board.

In other instances, the healthcare practitioner might have to have an overspecialisation in a specific field to accurately read and interpret an ultrasound.

However, in instances like these, practitioners with less specific training are able to confidently provide care for a patient because of the accuracy in the AI technology being used.

More quality time with patients

When the outcome and results of a test rely so heavily on the many smaller tasks a healthcare provider must complete to follow procedures, it is actively taking away time from the patient. This can lead to a patient not feeling heard or cared for, or a missing level of communication between patient and care provider.

Patient outcome is dependent on forming a certain level of connection with the patient. A healthcare practitioner that puts an emphasis on communication may be able to obtain a more complete diagnosis of the patient, by combining the results found by technology and the feedback from the patient.

By using the advancements in technology, we can ensure this gap is bridged. Patients are able to feel cared for by their provider and the healthcare provider can ensure they are performing a thorough job on all fronts.

Through the use of technology, doctors and healthcare providers in the maternal sector can feel more comfortable and confident in the care they are providing. The steps being made in this space are creating a safer, more accessible environment for both the patient and the provider.

By continuing down this path of integrating technology into everyday practices, healthcare can become safer and less stressful for all parties involved.