Backed by a $4.2 million investment from WA Country Health Service, the new system hopes to help thousands of rural and regional expectant mothers every year.
A state-of-the-art fetal monitoring system will soon be implemented across all maternity sites in regional WA.
The K2 Infant Guardian System, expected to be available in 2022, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help with the clinical review of real-time fetal heart patterns. Data generated by this system can then be remotely analysed by a doctor, who can then provide evidence-based medical advice.
The first hospital to implement the K2 Infant Guardian System will be Bunbury Regional Hospital, WA’s largest and busiest regional hospital. More WA Country Health Service maternity sites will follow across 2021-2022. In parallel, all relevant medical, nursing and midwifery staff across will undergo full training.
What are the benefits?
According to the official press release, the K2 Infant Guardian System is set to provide multiple benefits to expectant mothers and clinicians, including:
- improved patient involvement in the management of her and her baby’s care with greater transparency of data;
- real-time, clinical data can be reviewed remotely by treating clinicians;
- greater privacy and fewer intrusions in the birth suite during labour with fetal heart pattern also able to be safely monitored remotely;
- the potential for a more efficient discharge process when it’s time to go home with data being readily available and remotely accessible;
- specialist support can be provided to smaller maternity sites remotely and in real-time.
“Bringing a new baby into the world should be a special time for expectant families and this technology puts the patient experience at the forefront of clinical care,” Health Minister Roger Cook said in a press release.
“This revolutionary system ensures the mother is included in the review and decision-making process throughout her pregnancy and birthing journey, which we know plays a big part in improving fetal wellbeing,” he added.
According to Kate Reynolds, Coordinator of Midwifery at WA Country Health Service the new system will put patients at the centre of health care efforts.
“The patient is included in every step of her care which we know improves fetal wellbeing,” Ms Reynolds said in an official press release. “Expectant mothers will have access to this state-of-the-art, digital technology close to home, close to support networks and on country,” she added.
The availability of this new system is also posed to reduce current disparities in health care outcomes currently observed for mothers and newborns, Ms Reynolds explained.
