What if artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to provide better health care for Black women across the nation?
In a new film produced for Microsoft and Kearney by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, viewers are given a glimpse into Black maternal health and how artificial intelligence and data are being used to improve outcomes.
As a part of a larger global series titled The Shift, An Invitation for Change is centered around Atlanta-based OB-GYN Dr. Ashlee McCorkle-Jamieson and the power of being heard and seen, something that statistics have proven is not always the case for Black women, can help to improve care.
A problem that needs solving
According to Kearney wHealth Tech’s Manifesto, “Women face delayed diagnoses, poorer outcomes, and 25 percent more of their lives in ill health than men. Without urgent change, these gaps will only widen.”
As previously reported by AfroTech, Black women in the U.S. face a severe maternal health crisis, with pregnancy-related mortality rates roughly three to three-and-a-half times higher than the rate for white women.
Health equity is an ongoing issue within the American healthcare system, and one of the ways that global healthcare leaders are fighting back is through the use of technology like AI.
An Invitation for Change poses the following question: “What does equitable, family-centered care for women look like — and how can AI help enable it?”
Using technology for good
Although there has been an ongoing conversation about AI integrity, especially regarding creativity and ownership, this documentary explores how the technology is enhancing women’s lives.
Microsoft’s Andrea Barrett and Kearney’s Paula Bellostas Muguerza are featured in the film, along with Dr. McCorkle-Jamieson, providing insight into how AI clinical assistants like Microsoft’s Dragon Copilot help alleviate clinicians’ administrative burdens, giving them more time to focus on patient care.
As part of its broader commitment, Microsoft’s AI for Better aims to “help every person on the planet live healthier through more equitable access to care.”
Released earlier this summer via BBC StoryWorks channels, An Invitation for Change is currently available to watch online.
