Using new technologies to push Pathfinder’s work forward
Today, digital technologies, including cutting-edge analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and even virtual reality are all being incorporated into our understanding of where digital health can bring us. But, as digital health becomes more ubiquitous, so does our need to protect those it’s meant to aid.
Pathfinder incorporates digital technologies into our everyday work, while ensuring that laws, policies, and capacity supports the growth at hand. To support health and save lives, we need to build frameworks for fairness, equity, and digital security from the start. Pathfinder is working to bolster the technological innovations across our programs that will support the health needs of our global community.
Digital Health
Digital health is the systematic application of information and communication technologies, computer science, and data to support informed decision-making by individuals, the health workforce, and health institutions, to strengthen resilience to disease and improve health and wellness for all. Digital health connects and empowers people and populations to manage health and wellness. Pathfinder uses a variety of technology platforms and applications to strengthen the quality of services offered at the intersection of the community and health facility; to support individuals to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and behavior change around sexual and reproductive health; and improve access to information and services
Building Local Capacity to Adopt, Manage, and Scale Digital Health Solutions
Local partnerships are essential to manage the implementation of fully scaled digital health interventions. Pathfinder works through local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, and governments to support the delivery of quality sexual and reproductive health services, using a variety of clients and health workforce digital health interventions.
Strengthening Community and Facility Interactions to Enhance Quality Service Delivery
Pathfinder designs digital solutions that support the work of community health workers, reduce paper-based reporting burdens, and bring higher quality services to communities. Pathfinder designs these digital solutions to connect the community workers and health care clients to the health system through voice, data reporting and recording, SMS, and other digital technologies.
Strengthening Quality of programs through Improved Adherence to Protocols, Supervision, Performance Improvement, and Data Use
Pathfinder designs apps and tools (such as data use training for supervisors and other stakeholders) so that the data collected through digital health applications can be effectively used to inform provider performance improvement, advocacy, and overall quality improvement activities. Pathfinder ensures digital solutions are in line with and support national-level health information systems, ensuring system interoperability and data standards are met, while reducing the burden of duplicative data reporting. Pathfinder also ensures security and privacy of data are kept according to Pathfinder’s and international standards.
Countries using this approach
Featured Projects
OSRA (Family)
For nearly 40 years, Pathfinder has partnered with the Government of Egypt to advance reproductive health in the country. Pathfinder’s…
YUVAA: Youth Voices for Agency and Access
Youth Voices for Agency and Access or ‘YUVAA’- is a flagship family planning program of Pathfinder in India which innovates…
USAID/Egypt Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program
For nearly 40 years, Pathfinder has partnered with the Government of Egypt to advance reproductive health and rights, economic opportunity,…
USAID/Uganda Family Planning Activity
Pathfinder is implementing the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Uganda Family Planning Activity that will address underlying social, cultural,…
Impacto
Supporting Family Planning and Abortion Services, locally known as Impacto, has improved gender equality in nine districts in two provinces…
Shukhi Jibon
In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this project provided adaptive, needs-driven technical assistance and systems strengthening…
Championing Digital Solutions for Improved Health Care Delivery to Mothers and Children
The GeoST4R project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, employs innovative digital strategies that contribute to data-informed decisions…
Read The StoryYUVAA’s Digital Innovations
Across India’s Bihar and Maharashtra states, married couples are joining together to reach young couples with modern contraception. This story…
Read The StoryPathways – Spring 2022: A Digital Transformation
In this issue of Pathways, you will learn how Pathfinder is undergoing a digital transformation, using three principles that guide…
Read The StoryAskNivi: A Digital Platform Helping with Cervical Cancer Prevention in Kenya
Parents of students at Rising Academy School in Kilifi County, Kenya, expressed concern when the school management allowed the local…
Read The Story