AI, virtual platform modernizes maternal health care

The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. has more than doubled in the past twenty years, and is three times the rate of other wealthy, developed countries.

A widespread lack of access to healthcare — through pregnancy and postpartum — is considered one of the main contributors to these harrowing statistics. Almost 8 million women of reproductive age are underinsured or uninsured, leaving them without adequate care in pregnancy and post-partum.

For women who manage to access care, the outdated maternal healthcare model can leave them vulnerable, says Santosh Pandipati, MD, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician Founder & Chief Medical Officer, e-Lōvu Health, a leading B2B digital wellness platform specializing in maternal health.

“The current prenatal care paradigm is 90 years old and depends on pre-defined clinical touchpoints at specified time intervals along the course of pregnancy and postpartum,” Pandipati told DHI. “While revolutionary for its time, it is now clear that this model has led us to the crisis points of today since it leaves significant gaps in awareness of what is happening to mothers between physician and midwife visits.”

Using data and AI to empower maternal care

e-Lōvu Health’s platform integrates with clinical practices to provide clinical insights, data, and potential emerging pathologies such as preeclampsia, anxiety, and depression well in advance of traditional care models. Using patient feedback, longitudinal biometric signals, and partner and environmental data, the platform employs artificial intelligence to empower “real-life navigators” in guiding mothers throughout their entire journey from pre-pregnancy to post-pregnancy. These navigators provide personalized recommendations tailored to each mother’s unique data, enhancing the quality and precision of maternal care.

e-Lōvu Health is changing the maternal healthcare paradigm by early detection of arising issues and connecting patients to the care they need. In July, eLovu Health announced a partnership with Brightside health, a telemental health care platform to provide a full scope of care to their users.

“Mental health is especially important, as poor mental health is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S. For example, we know that patients with inadequately treated mood disorders have higher rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, hospitalization, and suicide attempts,” Pandipati continued. “But with the current outdated prenatal care model obstetricians lack tools to effectively catch developing mental health troubles, and even if we are able to identify concerns, we struggle to connect our patients with psychotherapists and psychiatrists due to insurance, geographic, or resource barriers.”

By leveraging Brightside Health’s platform, e-Lovu will provide its users with access to mental healthcare services catering to mild-to-severe clinical depression, anxiety, and various mood disorders. Together, they aim to revolutionize the landscape of mental healthcare accessibility and support.

“With this partnership, eLovu members — mothers from pre-conception through two years postpartum — are referred to Brightside Health for timely and sometimes critical mental health care,” Mimi Winsberg, MD, and Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Brightside Health told DHI. “Through talk therapy, psychiatry, or both, Brightside Health providers guide patients at any stage of their parenting journey and can help navigate panic disorders, anxiety, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, postpartum depression and more, through tailored, customized treatment.”

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Brightside Health’s AI-powered platform monitors risk and sends real-time alerts to providers enabling them to promptly reach out to patients at heightened risk of self-harm.

Ultimately, patients will receive faster and more effective care at potentially critical times.

“This partnership between Brightside Health and eLovu enables timely and equitable access to virtual mental health services that are available from pregnancy through postpartum and into parenting,” Winsberg said. “Parenthood is a huge shift in a person’s life; having a dedicated mental health provider to identify and flag conditions before they escalate can make all the difference.”