Advancing equity with technology and innovation in obstetrics: A critical approach to obstetric TechQuity

Innovative technology, including wearable devices, remote patient monitoring, smartphone-based applications, and artificial intelligence, has often been suggested as a potential solution to addressing racial disparities and the maternal mortality crisis in the United States. The rapid pace of development of new technologies without deliberate efforts to ensure equity may in fact amplify rather than alleviate disparities. "Techquity" is a concept that encompasses "strategic development and deployment of technology to advance health equity" and has not been well explored as it relates to innovation in obstetrics. While advanced technology can be a powerful tool for achieving equity in healthcare, the irresponsible use of this technology can have devastating consequences for vulnerable communities. In this article, we highlight some of the more commonly used new technologies in obstetric care, examine potential pitfalls, discuss approaches to critical evaluations and proposed solutions, and explore the role of community partnerships in successfully advancing obstetric TechQuity.