AI innovation offers hope for safer maternity services
Researchers at Loughborough University have developed an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to enhance safety in maternity care by identifying the human factors that could impact outcomes. Known as I-SIRch (Identifying Social, Technical, and Organisational Factors in Incident Reports), this tool was created by Professor Georgina Cosma and Professor Patrick Waterson to provide new insights into areas such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making within maternity services.
The findings from the analysis of 188 real maternity incident reports, which the tool was trained on, were published in the International Journal of Population Data Science on 20 November 2024. The researchers hope the tool will help healthcare providers design targeted interventions to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Highlighting the importance of this work, Professor Waterson explained, “Our work opens up new possibilities for understanding the complex interplay between social, technical, and organisational factors influencing maternal safety and population health outcomes.” He noted that the research addresses the gaps identified in the 2022 Ockenden Review, which found that “repeated failures” in NHS maternity care led to over 200 preventable infant deaths between 2000 and 2019. “By taking a more comprehensive view of maternal healthcare delivery, we can develop targeted interventions to improve maternal outcomes for all mothers and babies,” he added.
Addressing Challenges in Incident Reviews
Traditionally, when adverse incidents occur in maternity care, investigations require manual reviews of reports, which are time-consuming and prone to inconsistencies due to reliance on individual interpretation. I-SIRch automates and standardises this process, allowing for the analysis of multiple reports simultaneously to identify recurring human factors.
In testing, I-SIRch successfully identified human factors in each report and provided precise insights into areas where additional support could improve outcomes. This capability could revolutionise how incident investigations are conducted, helping allocate resources more effectively and preventing future adverse events.
Discussing the broader implications of this work, Professor Cosma stated, “We are seeking to collaborate with hospitals, healthcare organisations, and investigation bodies to further refine and apply our AI tool to reports. These partnerships will help us extract vital intelligence to prevent adverse incidents and ensure the safety of all mothers and babies.” She also emphasised the potential for I-SIRch to be adapted for other applications, explaining, “We also hope to adapt the tool for use with other types of reports, such as adverse police incident reports, where understanding the human factors involved can help prevent future incidents and improve response strategies.”
Future Development and Tackling Inequities
The I-SIRch project, jointly funded by the Health Foundation and the NHS AI Lab at the NHS Transformation Directorate, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has achieved significant milestones. However, the researchers are now seeking additional funding to refine the tool further. This includes incorporating a larger and more diverse dataset, which will allow I-SIRch to address the unique challenges faced by mothers from ethnic minority groups, who often experience disparities in maternity care.
Dr Jonathan Back, a safety insights analyst at the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, highlighted the potential of I-SIRch, saying, “The AI tool could help analysts working in health and care to identify where there are inequalities, maximising learning by bringing together findings from multiple investigations.”
The Role of AI in Transforming Maternity Care
The potential of AI in improving maternity care has been further underscored by a 2024 University of Birmingham review, which examined over 12,000 papers and 87 articles. The study found that AI software improved the odds of women receiving good maternity care by an impressive 69%.
Through tools like I-SIRch, healthcare providers can gain valuable insights into human factors, enabling them to implement more precise and equitable interventions. By addressing the systemic challenges in maternity services, this innovative approach holds the promise of safer, more effective care for all families.
