The state of Illinois is embarking on an innovative digital maternal health pilot project in partnership with Drive Health and Google. This project aims to provide 56,000 participants in rural Cook County with access to an artificial intelligence agent named Avery, who can offer real-time maternal health advice. Avery can help manage care plan adherence, order genetic screening tests, book vaccination appointments, and more.
Why It Matters
Illinois has a higher infant mortality rate than the national average, with a third of its counties lacking adequate maternal care facilities. Among Medicaid populations, nearly 40% of behavioral health conditions go untreated, and over 90% of hospitals in the state face shortages in mental health care services. To address these disparities, women in Cook County who are planning to start a family, expectant mothers, and mothers with children under three years old are eligible to participate in this pilot project.
Participants will receive a Google Pixel 8a phone to communicate with Avery, as well as a Fitbit Inspire 3 device to track physical activity, heart health data, and sleep vitals. With access to user data, Nurse Avery can provide personalized recommendations tailored to each individual’s unique needs.
Former Illinois state senator, James Clayborne Jr., played a key role in advocating for this initiative. Clayborne expressed his support for the program, stating that it will have a significant impact on underserved communities in Illinois.
The Services Offered
The AI health assistant, Avery, engages patients proactively by offering reminders, answering questions, and promoting care plan adherence. Some of the services available on the platform include nutritional support, guidance on managing chronic diseases like diabetes, mental health resources, stress management, vaccination coordination, and lab-based genetic risk screenings.
Drive’s platform features voice-command options for users with limited technical abilities, while Google Cloud ensures the security of patient data.
The Larger Trend
Maternal health disparities affect vulnerable populations in both rural and urban areas, particularly women of color. Only a quarter of high-risk mothers on Medicaid receive consistent prenatal care, highlighting the need for innovative solutions like Nurse Avery.
Conversational AI has been shown to support maternal healthcare, with examples like Penn Medicine’s conversational chatbot, Penny, which helps address postpartum care needs using natural language processing.
Final Thoughts
Google Public Sector’s field chief technology officer, Chris Hein, emphasized the importance of leveraging AI to deliver personalized health support to underserved mothers. Drive Health’s CEO, Kevin Longoria, highlighted the partnership’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through technology.
In conclusion, the Healthy Baby pilot project represents a significant step forward in maternal healthcare, utilizing cutting-edge technology to provide essential support to those in need.
Andrea Fox is a senior editor at Healthcare IT News. For inquiries, contact afox@himss.org. Healthcare IT News is a publication by HIMSS Media.
