Ada Health, founded in 2011, has rapidly become a key player in the digital health arena. The company’s AI-powered health assessment and care navigation platform is designed to guide users through their health concerns and connect them with appropriate care options. With a medical engine that factors in over 30,500 ICD-10 codes, Ada aims to provide comprehensive health assessments across a wide range of conditions.
“One of the biggest changes in healthcare over the past couple of decades is the technology available to patients. It’s incredibly empowering, providing vast access to information, but it can also be overwhelming and sometimes inaccurate. This is where we come in,” said Dr. Claire Novorol, Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer of Ada Health. “The core of our AI platform is to assess and understand what’s happening with a patient and gauge the urgency of their concerns. We then assist them directly or connect them with the right provider. Our goal is always to ensure that safe and appropriate care is accessed as efficiently as possible”, Dr. Novorol explained.
While Ada’s use case is broadly consistent across its user base, the company has also been able to gain valuable insights into how different demographics interact with digital health tools. Notably, a significant proportion of Ada’s users are women. Currently, 68% of Ada’s mobile database users are women, with a similar percentage of secondary profiles (used for managing the health of dependents) also held by women. This aligns with broader digital health trends where women often take the lead in managing health for themselves and their families.
Redefining Women’s Health
Traditionally, women’s health has been synonymous with reproductive and gynecological care. However, the conversation is evolving to emphasize gender differences in diagnosis and care. Ada’s data and user interactions highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach. While the platform covers nearly 100 gynecological conditions, it’s clear that women’s health extends far beyond these areas. Incorporating gender-specific data into its diagnostic pathways continues to be a priority for the company.
Ada’s evolving perspective on women’s health is reflected in its approach to various conditions. The platform has observed a high volume of assessments for endometriosis, particularly among younger users. This suggests digital health tools can play a crucial role in flagging potential cases of underdiagnosed conditions earlier than traditional pathways. Additionally, Ada’s data shows women are disproportionately affected by certain diseases, such as autoimmune disorders, which may present differently in women compared to men. By integrating these insights into their algorithms, Ada aims to provide more accurate and tailored health guidance for women.
”Even when data on how conditions present in women are available, the onus falls entirely on the patient and the clinician to connect disparate pieces of information and symptoms. Our algorithm takes this data into account, which means we can catch conditions earlier and shorten the path to diagnosis,” Dr. Novorol noted.
Strategic Partnerships Enhancing Women’s Health
Ada’s commitment to improving women’s health outcomes has led to several strategic partnerships. A collaboration with Bayer on women’s intimate health for example has facilitated over 430,000 assessments for conditions like vaginal thrush and bacterial vaginosis. This partnership has increased access to information about often stigmatized health issues and significantly boosted user engagement. Users spent four times longer on the Bayer website, with visits up by 55%, making it the most visited resource after the NHS for intimate health concerns in the UK.
Another impactful initiative is Ada’s partnership with MomConnect in South Africa, focusing on maternal and infant health. This program, known as SafeMom, has significantly improved maternal health outcomes and healthcare-seeking behaviors. For instance, one in three women altered their care-seeking plans after using Ada. “In South Africa, with MomConnect, a significant number of women using the assessment were not considering seeking care. Our assessment flagged urgent issues, leading them to seek care they wouldn’t have otherwise sought,” Dr. Novorol shared.
The Digital Future of Women’s Health Diagnostics
Digital health has a crucial role to play in closing the gender health data and care effectiveness gap for women. Highlighting gender differences in the use of digital primary care services is a first step. Looking ahead, Ada is further exploring the intersections of physical, mental, and sexual health, recognizing the need for a holistic approach to women’s well-being. Notably, 8.5% of assessments on the platform today are about or related to sexual health. Improving the inclusivity of its language and assessment flows to better serve diverse user groups is also a priority for the company.
Ada is another example of how slowly but surely the evolution of women’s health diagnostics is reshaping the healthcare landscape. And it is about time. As digital health technologies advance, they can help bridge the gap in gender-specific health data and care, offering more personalized, accurate, and comprehensive solutions. This shift towards inclusivity and precision marks a new era in healthcare; one where technology and compassion converge and become key to finally improving the health and lives of women, who have been underserved by the existing healthcare system for far too long.
