NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Navigating pregnancy is already complicated, however, an app created by a Queens woman looks to eliminate the bias that some Black and brown parents may face when seeking medical care.
At 23 years old, Joi Cole found herself pregnant with her first child. After a quick search online, she found an OBGYN.
“I went and it was a horrible experience,” Cole told PIX11 News. At that time, she was the only one in her friends’ group who was pregnant. She was scared and confused.
“I probably switched OBGYN three times.” Being well into her sixth month of pregnancy, she came across a social media post about an event for pregnant women. And that’s when she discovered the Irth app.
“I downloaded the app and was able to find someone with whom I could continue my care,” said Cole.
Kimberly Seals Allers created the app after being disappointed with her own birth experience. The name Irth has a special significance. “We dropped the b from the birth experience, and the b stands for bias.”
Irth is completely free to download and use. After setting up an account with some basic information, users can leave reviews about their experiences. These reviews are kept anonymous and turned into data that helps hospitals improve the care they provide.
“We are filling the patient experience gap by working with hospitals, using the data to help them through quality improvement processes to help them do better,” adds Seals Allers.
The app has over 50 thousand users and is available nationwide. At the moment, they are working closely with hospitals in 6 states and 8 cities, including New York City. IRTH is also filled with an extensive content library.
“You can see resources and articles about ways to take care of yourself about post-partum mental health.”
Joi says she found the care she needed during her pregnancy and for when her daughter Justice, now three years old, needed a pediatrician. She says this app not only spreads awareness but also “for us, it holds hospitals accountable.”
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