Telemedicine and Virtual Prenatal Care in Prisons

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Telemedicine in prisons refers to the use of digital tools (video calls, remote monitoring) to provide healthcare to incarcerated individuals. For pregnant people in prisons, virtual prenatal care addresses a critical gap: incarcerated women often face high-risk pregnancies due to limited access to specialists, delayed care, and poor health conditions. Virtual prenatal programs connect them with obstetricians, midwives, or maternal health specialists remotely, allowing for regular check-ups, ultrasounds, and education on prenatal nutrition and labor preparation. 

This approach improves outcomes by ensuring timely interventions, reducing the need for high-security (and costly) transportation to off-site clinics, and addressing stigma or neglect in prison healthcare systems. For example, programs may include virtual consultations for high-risk pregnancies, mental health support, or postpartum follow-ups. However, challenges like limited internet access in prisons, privacy concerns, and staff training gaps can hinder implementation. Such innovations demonstrate telehealth’s potential to advance equity even in carceral settings by prioritizing vulnerable populations often excluded from traditional healthcare systems. 


- Third Way. (n.d.). Local examples & innovations in telehealth. Retrieved from https://www.thirdway.org/memo/local-examples-innovations-in-telehealth

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