In the United States, the increasing rates of preterm birth and maternal mortality have been considered as serious problems, yet none of practical solutions are offered to it.
Here, Tamar Krishnamurti, a researcher from Carnegie Mellon University’s department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) as well as an assistant professorship of medicine and clinical and translational science at the University of Pittsburgh, was highly aware of the problems, so she applied her expertise in behavioral science to produce the solution.
Furthermore, Krishnamurti has collaborated with her colleague Alex Davis, an assistant professor of EPP who specializes in machine learning. Hence, the combination of their difference expertises would be the key to address the problem. Afterward, they co-founded a startup company called “Naima Health” which has subsequently formed partnership with UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital and UPMC Enterprises.
Naima Health company created an app called My Healthy Pregnancy (MHP) that functions as a real-time supporter for all pregnant patients, especially who lack an opportunity to access the medication or who have other complications.
“We thought an app might be a good, tangible way to communicate and get patients to disclose risk factors in ways they might not be able to in person,” Krishnamurti said.
While other conventional pregnancy apps can only check information regarding the growing fetus, the MHP app can assess the possible risks by analyzing the pregnant patient’s health information including nutrition, weight gain and symptom assessment. Then, MHP will provide each patient with appropriate advice.
Likewise, after each pregnant patient provides information to the MHP app, its algorithm will learn and understand what messaging or advice is most beneficial for each patient. For example, once a patient has abnormal bleeding, the app can prompt her to call the doctor immediately. Similarly, due to the fact that some of patients may face domestic violence, MHP can help those patients by offering resource, and prompts them to take action such as calling 911.
Currently, the MHP app is in the stage of beta testing at UPMC, and pregnant patients who hold the MyUPMC account obtain access to the MHP app as part of their prenatal care package.
Retrieved from: https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2020/01/23-taking-care-of-moms.html
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