In recent years, a trove of new digital solutions have arrived in the hands of an often overlooked and digitally forgotten patient population: women. The longstanding gender disparities within the healthcare system are well-documented. Historically, many aspects of our society have been structured around male-centric norms, even through women play an outsized role in healthcare by making about 80% of the care decisions for their family.
In the early years of the digital transformation of healthcare, the unique needs of women’s health were often overlooked in favor of more generic apps to connect health data or promote general well-being. Now, though, digital health solutions specifically designed for women are emerging as powerful tools to empower, resolve gender biases, and ensure equitable access to quality health care.
How Digital Solutions are Engaging Women
Women’s digital health encompasses the integration of transformative digital tools, including mobile apps, wearable devices, virtual consultations, and online platforms that are specifically tailored to women’s unique health needs. These technologies not only facilitate the seamless collections and analysis of health data but also offer invaluable personalized insights and tools, empowering women to take control of their health and well-being. In harnessing the power of digital health solutions, women are provided with opportunities to navigate various aspects of their health journeys with confidence and autonomy.
The rise of women-focused digital health tools represents an important milestone in digital health: the availability of tools designed for women and their own unique health needs. While digital health tools had been widely available, few tackled the research of patient engagement, the efficacy of digital tools in improving common women’s health problems, and an intuitive design that would encourage regular use and brand loyalty.
By fostering accessibility, improving health outcomes, and championing women’s empowerment, digital health solutions are beginning to reshape the landscape of women’s healthcare, ensuring that women receive personalized care and the support they deserve.
Here are some ways digital health solutions are empowering women and their health outcomes:
Alzheimer’s Disease Management
Alzheimer’s disease – a form of dementia characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes – disproportionately affects women, who comprise two-thirds of Americans living with the disease. The rise of digital health technologies in Alzheimer’s disease management offers a new era of hope and support for both patients an their caregivers. Among these innovative solutions are cognitive training apps, strategically designed to mitigate cognitive decline through therapeutic brain exercises, potentially slowing the diseases progression.
Wearable devices are now equipped with sophisticated monitoring capabilities such as GPS tracking, activity tracking (including alerts for fall risks), and real-time monitoring of vital signs, offering caregivers invaluable peace of mind by ensuring the safety and well-being of their loved ones, even from a distance.
Additionally, the emergence of virtual reality therapies represents a promising tool for providing cognitive stimulation, facilitating adaptive physical exercises, and offering emotional comfort to Alzheimer’s patients, thereby enhancing their overall quality of life.
These digital interventions not only serve to support patients directly but also extend a lifeline to caregivers, providing access to resources and fostering supportive networks. By nurturing a community of care and understanding, digital health solutions are transforming the landscape of Alzheimer’s disease while uplifting and empowering those affected by it.
Heart Health Monitoring
Heart disease is a leading cause of death among women. What complicates matters further is the distinct manifestation of symptoms in women compared to men during a heart attack. While chest pain remains a hallmark symptom, it may not always be the primary symptom for women. Instead, women are more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain. These differences underscore the critical need for widespread awareness and education by leveraging digital content and social media. It also calls for the development of specialized digital health technologies adept at monitoring and alerting women to these unique indicators of a cardiac event.
One such innovation is a wearable electrocardiogram monitor. These discreet and convenient devices are designed to continuously monitor the heart’s electrical activity, detecting abnormalities that may indicate an impending heart attack, including the more subtle signs often experienced by women. By providing real-time data and gender-specific analysis, these devices can alert the wearer to seek medical attention even if they’re not experiencing classic heart attack symptoms.
Additionally, smartphone ap9ps integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) can play a crucial role in monitoring women’s heart health. These apps can track symptoms, activity levels, and even psychological stress – which is a significant risk factor for heart attacks. Smartwatches and fitness bands are also equipped with advanced sensors capable of monitoring heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels and other physiological markers that can indicate cardiovascular distress. Through analyzing this data, technology can identify patterns that may precede a heart attack, issuing timely alerts and personalized health advice to mitigate risk.
Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders, though affecting individuals of all genders, are more prevalent among women and pose a serious risk to every aspect of health and wellness. The digital health landscape is expanding to address this critical area with innovative solutions aimed at providing support, treatment, and recovery tools for those battling eating disorders.
At the forefront of these solutions are mobile applications designed for eating disorder management, offering features including personalized meal planning, mood tracking, and coping strategies to assist users along their journey to recovery. Virtual support groups and therapy sessions also provide meaningful connections among individuals dealing with similar challenges. By fostering a sense of community, these digital forums play a role in alleviating feelings of isolation.
Furthermore, AI-driven platforms offer personalized recovery programs, leveraging algorithms to tailor support and interventions based on the user’s unique needs and progress. These digital health technologies not only enhance access to treatment but also empower individuals with eating disorders to take an active role in their recovery, promoting long-term wellness and support.
Connecting Mothers and Babies in the ICU
In the realm of neonatal care, technology is redefining the way mothers connect with their babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Separation of mother and baby can have a profound impact. Research suggests that prolonged separation can disrupt the establishment of breastfeeding, impede mother-infant bonding, and contribute to heightened levels of maternal stress, anxiety, and depression. Infants deprived of early maternal contact may also experience emotional and developmental issues and may become vulnerable to heightened cortisol levels and pain responses. To reduce the negative impacts of this separation, emerging digital health solutions aid with physical separation and limited skin-to-skin contact, offering comfort and strengthening the bond between parent and newborn.
Video link technology now enables mothers to maintain a visual connection with their newborns around the clock, promoting bonding and mitigating the emotional distance that NICU care can impose. Complementing this visual connection is a seamless digital access to their baby’s medical records, affording parents the opportunity to remain actively engaged in their newborn’s care journey. By staying informed about their infant’s health status and progress in real-time, parents are empowered to actively participate in decision-making processes, fostering a collaborative approach to neonatal care.
Taking a significant leap forward, some NICUs have introduced robotic technology that simulates a mother’s skin-to-skin contact, reducing pain for infants in NICUs. These robots replicate the rhythm of a mother’s breathing while also synchronizing with her heartbeat and cadence. In doing so, they not only provide physical comfort to the infant but also offer a soothing maternal presence that can comfort newborns emotionally.
Menstrual Cycle Tracking
Menstrual cycle tracking apps represent one of the initial and most notable innovations in the realm of women’s digital health. These apps empower women by enabling them to track and monitor their menstrual cycles, symptoms, mood changes, and predict ovulation. This data not only offers invaluable insights into a woman’s reproductive health but also facilitates informed decision-making regarding family planning, fertility optimization, and detection of potential menstrual-related health issues. These apps also empower women to optimize and prepare for their overall well-being and daily activities, allowing them to tailor self-care practices and lifestyle choices to align with their menstrual cycle.
Furthermore, menstrual cycle tracking apps can help foster more meaningful and open dialogue within a woman’s network, including with their physicians and friend groups. By providing apps for documenting their experiences, these digital solutions contribute to the normalization of menstrual health discussions, challenging societal taboos and promoting greater education, awareness, and understanding.
Cancer Genetic Testing
Genetic testing platforms such as 23andMe and Natera are revolutionizing the way women approach their health. Through comprehensive analysis of DNA, these sites enable women to uncover potential genetic predispositions to cancer – including breast and ovarian – empowering them to make proactive and informed decisions about their health care and preventive strategies. Around 3% of breast cancers and 10% of ovarian cancers result in inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Having access to this personalized genetic information fosters a more informed and engaged approach to health management, allowing women to collaborate with healthcare providers on tailored current and future health and wellness plans based on their own genetic makeup.
Maternal Health Monitoring
The journey of pregnancy marks a significant period in a woman’s life, necessitating enhanced health monitoring and support. Fortunately, digital health solutions offer a plethora of tools designed to meet the unique needs of expectant mothers through personalized pregnancy tracking apps. These applications provide comprehensive guidance and support throughout each stage of pregnancy by equipping women with essential knowledge on fetal development, pregnancy milestones, and maternal well-being. They also empower women to take an active role in managing their prenatal health, nutrition, and fitness routines.
This technology also enhances collaboration and communication between expectant mothers and their healthcare providers. By facilitating remote monitoring and communication, these apps bridge geographical barriers and ensure continuous access to quality care, particularly for women in remote or underserved areas. And in high-risk pregnancies, the ability to remotely monitor maternal and fetal health proves indispensable.
Ready to elevate your healthcare experiences?
Discover digital solutions that meet your organization’s needs.
Meet the Authors
Lily Farris | Clinical Change Management Director
Lily Farris is Director of Organizational Change Management at Divurgent. She focuses on clinical transformation strategies, adoption, and communication. She is an expert in technology deployment, IT program management, and government relations. Lily holds numerous certifications in change management and a Masters degree in sociology. Visit Lily on LinkedIn.
Pete Wiley | Principal
Pete Wiley is Principal at Divurgent. He focuses on EMR implementations, optimizations, and leadership in healthcare. He is an expert in digital transformation and healthcare program management. Pete is a Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) and recently worked at a large academic health system. Visit Pete on LinkedIn.
