Digital Health Infrastructure Continues Expansion
A monthly roundup of digital health contracts reports expanded go-lives for electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems. The report reinforces the trend of digital infrastructure becoming foundational to both inpatient and outpatient care. These systems are increasingly integrated into maternal care settings.
- In Virginia, recent legislation is expanding the role of midwives to address care shortages; House Bill 1904, effective July 1, 2025, allows certified nurse midwives to handle 24-hour on-call duties for nursery care when a physician is not available. - New state laws are also addressing financial barriers for midwifery care; House Bill 1923 ensures insurance reimbursement parity for Licensed Certified Midwives and Licensed Midwives at the same rates as Certified Nurse Midwives for the same services. - Digital health platforms are helping to bridge gaps in "maternity care deserts," defined as counties lacking any hospital or birth center with obstetric services. Over 35% of U.S. counties fall into this category, affecting more than 2.3 million women. - Electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) systems improve patient safety by reducing medication errors through features like automated interaction alerts and providing a clear digital audit trail for all prescriptions. - Remote patient monitoring tools, such as cellular-enabled fetal monitors and blood pressure cuffs, allow for the continuous collection of data, enabling midwives and other clinicians to proactively manage high-risk pregnancies from a distance. - The global shortage of midwives is a critical issue, with the World Health Organization estimating a deficit of 310,000 midwives by 2030. Fully resourcing midwife-led care could prevent an estimated two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths. - Professional organizations like the Virginia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Virginia Midwives Alliance have been instrumental in advocating for these recent legislative changes, arguing for the value of a diverse midwifery workforce to address maternal health disparities. - While digital tools enhance access to care, challenges such as inequitable access to technology and the need for robust data privacy and security measures remain significant considerations for providers and patients.
