Digital Women's Health Hub
EBO's Digital AI Hub for Enhanced Accessibility, Education and Inclusivity
- An ICB approach for the entire health ecosystem
- A Conversational AI-Powered Platform
- Empowers patients to manage their health independently
- High quality digital healthcare personalised experience
- A 24/7 digital front door
- 2-way natural conversation in over 100 languages
- Proactive broadcast and check-ins
- Data-driven insights
Despite strides toward gender equality in healthcare, numerous challenges persist, impacting women’s access to quality care, reproductive health services, and overall well-being.
The Women’s Health Strategy for England, acknowledges the historical gender bias in healthcare, emphasising the need for a system that is more responsive to women’s unique health requirements and conditions. It recognises that the NHS has fallen short of meeting women’s day-to-day needs and placing importance on women-specific issues, such as pregnancy loss, menopause and endometriosis. The strategy outlines the need for better information and education, the need to address issues related to reproductive health, mental health as well as violence towards women.
In response to this strategy and the problems being faced by women, EBO’s Digital Women’s Health Hub (DWHH) introduces an innovative approach to women’s health; one that places accessibility, education, and inclusivity at the heart of its solution, ensuring that no woman is left behind.
The Problem
NHS has fallen short of meeting women’s day-to-day needs and placing importance on women-specific issues, such as pregnancy loss, menopause and endometriosis. Improved information and education are urgently needed to address these gaps.
Research shows 20-year life expectancy gap between women living in deprived areas and those living in wealthier parts of the country. Furthermore, NHS England outlines that women from inclusion health groups face additional hurdles in accessing healthcare. These obstacles contribute to poorer health outcomes compared to the general female population.
When it comes to gynaecologic screenings and diagnosis, studies indicate that Cervical Cancer screening is low in more deprived areas and among ethnic minority groups, leading to disparities in early detection and treatment (source). Endometriosis Diagnosis is also commonly delayed and access to imaging or surgical diagnosis may be restricted by social inequalities and limited knowledge of the disease in primary care (source).
A concerning statistic in the Women’s Health Strategy survey, shows that women experience a lack of access to information. The strategy’s public survey reveals that:
- Only 8% of respondents felt they had access to enough information on gynaecological conditions
- Only 9% of respondents felt they had access to enough information about menopause
- Only 17% felt they had enough information on menstrual well-being
When it comes to sourcing information, an earlier 2021 survey showed that apart from family and friends (74%), the most common source of health information for women was Google (71%). Whilst search engines can serve as a valid source of information, they may not be accurate and applicable to the patient’s needs. This may lead to misdiagnosis, delay in diagnosis and overall lower healthcare outcomes.
According to Dr. Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), waiting lists for conditions like endometriosis, prolapse, and heavy bleeding have seen substantial increases over the past two years. Untreated conditions such as endometriosis and prolapse can worsen and severely impact quality of life and fertility (source).
According to the Women’s Health Strategy public survey, 84% of women reported instances of not being listened to by healthcare professionals, particularly gynaecological symptoms. (WH Strategy, p.15) A lack of information and awareness further exacerbates the issue.
An earlier survey published by the Department of Health and Social Care, reported that ‘many women recalled their symptoms being dismissed upon first contact with GPs and other professionals; women felt they had to persistently advocate for themselves to secure a diagnosis, often over multiple visits, months and years’.
Statistic highlights (for infographic within the text):
- Only 9% of respondents feel they have access to enough information about menopause
- 71% of patients refer to Google as the source of health information
- 84% of women reported instances of not being listened to by healthcare professionals
- There is a 20-year life expectancy gap between women living in deprived areas and those living in wealthier parts of the country
The Impact
Key statistics:
only 9% of respondents feel they have access to enough information about menopause
71% of patients refer to Google as the source of health information
84% of women reported instances of not being listened to by healthcare professionals
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The Solution
Powered by Conversational AI technology, EBO’s solution offers a 24/7 digital front door to clinical services, empowering patients to manage their health independently. Through its intelligent communication platform, surfaced on a Trust’s website, the solution engages with patients via two-way human-like automated dialogue, ensuring that information is delivered accurately, consistently and with empathy.
Through the use of an intelligent AI Virtual Assistant, EBO efficiently and addresses enquiries from patients, offers clear signposting and resources, gathers patient feedback and provides assessments without the need of constant human supervision.
By leveraging advanced NLP and machine learning algorithms within the Platform, the Virtual Assistant comprehends and responds to diverse questions, encompassing topics such as the availability of community service providers, specific service-related enquiries, medical procedures, and the hospital’s approach to care delivery.
Benefits & Capabilities
- Enhanced Accessibility via 24/7 Interactive Communication
- Targets Diverse Needs via Personalised Patient Engagement
- Accommodates User Preferences and Outreach Management
- Reaches out to Patients
- Enables Patients via Healthcare System Navigation
- Improves Healthcare with Data-Driven Insights
- Empowers Patients through Empathy
- Increases Work Capacity
- Optionally integrates with EBO's Intelligent Patient Portal
The Results?
Well-informed patients who have their concerns taken seriously, in a timely manner, at every stage of their healthcare journey, regardless of their background, location, language or level of digital maturity. To find out the full capabilities of the Hub please download our guide here.
Winning Clients’ Trust
Here are a few words from our clients on their experience with our solution.
