The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reshaped health care, with one of the most significant changes being the rapid adoption of telehealth. This shift was the focus of a presentation by Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola from Johns Hopkins Medicine, titled “Telemedicine, Virtual Visits, and Artificial Intelligence in Obstetrics and Gynecology.”
Dr. DeNicola provided a thorough overview of telehealth, discussing both its advantages and challenges, and shared insights on how to carefully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into obstetrics and gynecology. The importance of this topic is evident in the statistics: women aged 18 to 44 were more likely to embrace telemedicine than their male counterparts or older age groups.
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth encompasses several remote health services, including:
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Remote Patient Monitoring: Collecting health data from patients in different locations using electronic technology.
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Mobile Health: Delivering healthcare services and education via smartphones, tablets, and computers.
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Store-and-Forward: Sending recorded health information electronically to healthcare providers for review.
During the early stages of the pandemic, government agencies swiftly supported remote care. The Department of Health and Human Services allowed the use of platforms like FaceTime and Skype for patient visits, while the Drug Enforcement Administration approved the remote prescribing of controlled substances.
Patient Satisfaction and Positive Outcomes
Patients responded positively to telehealth, with a survey showing that 75% were satisfied with the service and 50% were open to making telehealth their regular choice. Research also highlighted the benefits of telehealth interventions, such as improved smoking cessation through text message support and increased breastfeeding rates via web-based programs.
Dr. DeNicola also emphasized that telehealth could help spread out prenatal care appointments while maintaining high patient satisfaction through remote monitoring.
Telemedicine in High-Risk Obstetrics
For expectant mothers with high-risk conditions like gestational hypertension, diabetes, and asthma, telehealth interventions are proving effective. One study found that remote care helped reduce the number of outpatient clinic visits without compromising maternal and fetal health.
Transforming Contraceptive Care
Telehealth is also reshaping contraceptive care. For example, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) typically requires four in-person visits for counseling, screening, placement, and follow-up. With telehealth, counseling can be done remotely, reducing the need for in-person visits to just one for screening and placement, followed by a remote follow-up.
Fertility Awareness and AI in Reproductive Health
The growing market of fertility awareness apps is another development in telehealth, but Dr. DeNicola cautioned that clinicians must carefully vet these tools. For example, a study found that only six out of 30 apps could accurately predict a woman’s fertile window.
Artificial intelligence is also making strides in women’s health. Apps like JUBEL serve as “fertility coaches,” guiding patients through various stages of their reproductive journey, such as trying to conceive or undergoing fertility treatments. Another AI-driven tool, SERA, predicts a patient’s risk of preterm birth, providing valuable information for healthcare providers.
The Future of Femtech
Dr. DeNicola concluded by highlighting the rapid growth of the femtech market, which now includes a wide range of devices, apps, and services. With proper use and compliance, these innovations have the potential to transform obstetrics and gynecology, providing new opportunities to educate and empower patients.
Related Topics:
- Navigating the Fertility Treatment Journey: What to Expect and How to Cope
- Understanding the IVF Process: A Comprehensive Guide to Fertility Treatment
- Understanding IUI: A Step-by-Step Guide to Conception
