Telehealth interventions could lead to improved obstetric outcomes

biotech healthcare

Telehealth interventions are associated with improved obstetric outcomes, according to a review published from physician-researchers at the George Washington University. The article, published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology , presents a systematic review of studies on telehealth interventions that report health outcomes in selected areas in low-risk obstetrics, family planning, and gynecologic conditions. In recent years, health care has seen an increase in patient use of supportive technologies, such as mobile phone apps, wearable devices, short message service or text messaging, multimedia messaging services, and live-audio visual communication. In 2014, there were nearly 2,000 obstetric mobile phone apps available, according to the article. However, the development of evidence-based practices for those technologies lags behind the use of the technology by patients and providers. Establishing evidence-based practices in this emerging dimension of health care delivery is important to mitigate potential health risks and costs that could be associated with rapid adoption of new technologies that have not been adequately studied. It would also be helpful for overcoming barriers to adoption of clearly beneficial technologic advances." Nathaniel DeNicola, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and first author on the review Related Stories