Fixation on Histology

Using Technology to Bring Better Healthcare to Women at the Time of Care

  

Peggy Robinson, CEO at Caza Health, LLC, a company focused on developing better diagnostics for women's health, recently shared some staggering data on women’s health during her keynote, How Do Women Get Better Access to Healthcare? Point of Care Holds the Answer, at the 2023 NSH Convention in Baltimore.

Here are some key findings on global health statistics of women from a 2021 Hologic Global Women’s Health Index2:

  • There are 3.98 billion women in the world
  • 1 billion never saw a healthcare provider (that’s over 25%)
  • Only 12% of women had some type of cancer screening
  • Only 19% of women were tested for diabetes
  • Only 11% were tested for STIs/STDs
  • 10% of all births are preterm
  • Only 1 in 3 women were screened for high blood pressure 

The Hologic Global Index identified five dimensions of healthcare – preventive care,  individual health, basic needs, emotional health and opinions about health and safety. These five dimensions impact 80 percent of the variables in life expectancy. The question Peggy posed was how do we as laboratorians make a difference in one of these areas? The answer - a focus on preventive care and individual health – something we do everyday when we report out patient results. Ms. Robinson’s focus to improve care focuses on improving diagnostic care for gynecologic cancer.

Maintaining the vaginal microbiome is a critical component in women’s healthcare. Vaginal microbiome imbalance leads to the spread of STIs/STDs, ten million visits for vaginitis, and a prevalence of bacterial vaginitis with 84% of women with BV reporting no symptoms.  When women do see a healthcare provider, 48% of laboratory confirmed diagnosis of vaginitis received the wrong medication and 33% of women without a known infection were prescribed treatment inappropriately.

So how can we use technology to improve point of care for women? The answer is Artificial Intelligence (AI)!

Rather than a healthcare provider making a diagnosis based on symptoms, a rapid test done right in the office would improve women’s healthcare significantly. This is especially important when you know that 40% of yeast infections are misdiagnosed. Caza Health’s recent study found that yeast was missed on wet slide microscopy in some cases, which is the most common point of care method used today. The image on the left was viewed through a microscope.  The image on the right shows the same specimen using an AI tool that can also be done at the point of care. One can see how easily the yeast (green) is visible in the image on the right.

As laboratory clinicians, imagine the benefit to women’s health if vital routine testing can be done while the patient waits!  AI is simple to use, requires minimal hands-on time, and provides high quality imaging making it easier to identify significant infections. First results are available in rapid time, and you can keep testing close to the patient, which results in earlier diagnosis, improved outcomes, improved patient satisfaction and last but not least cost-effectiveness3 .  In fact, in a recent literature review: The Economic Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Healthcare, researchers think AI could reduce the cost of healthcare by 5-10%, which equals $200 billion to $360 billion4. Of course, with all new technology, the healthcare industry must face the challenge of provider and patient trust, but it seems as though it is an obstacle worth facing if it means we could see significant improvement in women’s health.

For more information on using technology to bring better healthcare to women at the time of care click here and watch the full keynote from the 2023 NSH Convention.

References:

  1. Robinson, Peggy. How Do Women Get Better Access to Healthcare? Point of Care Holds the Answer [conference presentation]. 2023 National Society for Histotechnology Convention. Baltimore, MD. United States
  2. Hologic. (2021). Hologic Global Women’s Health Index. https://hologic.womenshealthindex.com/en
  3. Khunti, Lamlesh. (2010) Near-patient testing in primary care. Br J Gen Pract, 60(572): 157–158, 10.3399/bjgp10X483454
  4. Alnasser, Badr. (2023) The Economic Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Healthcare: A Literature Review,  Vol.12 No.3, 10.4236/etsn.2023.123003


#ImagingandAnalysis


#2023
#Blog
1 comment
45 views

Permalink

Comments

Giorgis Yeabyo
10-22-2023 04:22

Thanks for the article. It really appreciated, attractive and timely. Women's health should be concerned.

I wish this article is published and presented in one of the under developed countries where women’s health and their well-being is often undermined. Women in under developed countries have significant roles in various domestic tasks like supporting their families, helping their husband in farming, but women face numerous challenges in accessing proper healthcare.  For instance; there is no/or very few cervical cancer testing or screening; no/or very far service for FNAC if breast cytology test is required, besides there is no education  on cervical and Breast cancer  that kills many women every year.

In under developing countries, a loss of a woman means a shadow over the household, prompting the eldest daughter to assume the role of caregiver and surrogate mother. She takes on the responsibility of nurturing her siblings, fulfilling both maternal and sisterly duties. Additionally, she is expected to engage actively in local community activities, following in her mother's footsteps.

I am sorry to hear the wrong medication and lab report error. Even though, AI plays crucial role in preventing these errors, role of lab professionals cannot be neglected, but  should pass through competency assessment periodically to reduce the amount of error occurred.  I hope sufficient training to be given to women before using the AI and interpret their own tests.