The best innovative ideas come from people who understand the unmet needs and problems of patients. Who then, are better placed to improve healthcare
provision at Bendigo Health, than the staff who are on the ground daily working diligently and directly with colleagues, patients and their families?
Midwife Andrea Patterson is on a quest to do just that by designing a new digital phone app designed to help expectant and new mothers look after themselves and their baby.
Andrea, who is a mum to three children, aged seven, five and 18 months, knows firsthand how vital accessible information resources are, and on a smartphone that is literally at people’s finger tips. Over 1700 mothers gave birth at Bendigo Health in 2022, and those rates continue to rise year-on-year.
“It may save one baby’s life, might stop one still birth, or one womb break-down or a case of mastitis, or sore bottom or tummy, that people could have done something about,” she said.
“Every woman who has a baby is given a Green Book, and in that book is handout; how to look after yourself, how to look after your baby, about epidurals and often nobody looks at it and it quickly gets forgotten. But everyone’s got their phone in their hands at all times so why not make their ante-natal and post-natal information in one accessible spot?”
The app also provides information for people who might have a higher chance of considering health risks, such as high blood pressure, what that might mean and if they need to see someone.
“It’s going to incorporate the whole pregnancy journey in a visual and interactive format, so linking in to baby movement matters, rather than just having a whole slab of information to read. For example, a video will pop up,” Andrea said.
The Innovation Acceleration Program (IAP) brings together clinicians, researchers, engineers and manufacturers to support Medtech projects such as Andrea’s across the hospital.
For more information, visit https://innovationaccelerationprogram.com.au/.