Proprietary coursework takes clinicians through educational modules and specialized artificial intelligence patient scenarios, bolstering 'knowledge capital' at a time when resources are shrinking nationally
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- LunaJoy Health, a women's mental health company supporting clinical operations and patient risk identification, has cataloged a series of online educational modules and training for the clinical community, focusing on improving the skills needed for specialty care in maternal and broader women's mental health.
With more than 30 available lectures to select from, participants can immerse themselves in condition-specific best practices, from maternal birth trauma to treating bipolar disorder. The modules, which can be accessed online, arrive at a time when there are fewer than 500 trained psychiatrists in reproductive mental health for a population of nearly 800,000 women in the U.S. who experience maternal mental health complications each year. LunaJoy curated diverse voices from across the clinical continuum who can coach, mentor, and offer peer-to-peer support. Additionally, while there is an abundance of programs focused specifically on perinatal mood disorders, the training spans the entire female experience, from puberty to pregnancy, to perimenopause and beyond. It is also designed to delve into the complex interplay between medical and psychiatric disorders, which have historically been treated in a silo.
"Over the years we've encountered so many different condition-specific cases on our platform that we felt it was imperative to replicate the information, as if reading about it in a textbook," said LunaJoy Chief Executive Officer Sipra Laddha, MD. "The numbers don't lie – we're experiencing a record shortage of mental health professionals, an issue that is compounded when you look at how training institutions across the country fail to prepare most for working with underserved women and marginalized communities. This is our way of ensuring that clinical professionals have a path toward lifelong learning, and women aren't misdiagnosed or ineffectively treated when they seek help for symptoms that can be rare or overlooked."
Program participants can leverage the training ad hoc – as if browsing a library – or enroll in formalized training that leads to certification. For the latter, participants are pre/post-tested and given scenarios, conducted with AI generated "avatar" patients that are based on real-world cases. The patient avatar, rooted in generative AI, responds dynamically to the clinician's interview and intervention, allowing for real time training. This is a process that until now has been largely done only through time intensive supervised patient interviews in training settings. The ability for technology to duplicate these cases has helped propel the field of medical education at a record pace.
"LunaJoy crowdsourced key clinical perspectives and incorporated academic checkpoints to bring participants a broad and accountable educational experience," said Dr. Sheril Kalarithara, associate professor of psychiatry at Morehouse School of Medicine. "Generative AI can provide quality at scale for students and seasoned clinical professionals who need the exposure to and experience with all patient populations and cases. This is a program that also considers emotional intelligence, and participants will get feedback on their cultural sensitivity and interpersonal skills with patients."
In addition to generative AI cases that span the scope of women's mental health, the patient experience corner provides in depth real recordings of PMADs survivors so that clinicians and peer support specialists can hear first hand the actual experiences of women, in their own words.
To date, the training is only available to LunaJoy clinicians but in the coming weeks, will be more widely available across a variety of disciplines to expand the knowledge base and earn CE/CME credit. LunaJoy is exploring partnerships with leading medical institutions to augment traditional in-person coursework, and fill educational gaps, as it relates to Medicaid and 'care desert' patients that lack equitable access to behavioral health care. LunaJoy is currently adding modules that specifically support OB GYN groups, as these sites accelerate the use of mental health screeners and questionnaires during perinatal and postpartum phases of pregnancy. In the U.S., nearly one in four pregnancy-related deaths are due to suicide or substance abuse disorder.
About LunaJoy
Founded with a mission to eliminate disparities in women's mental health, LunaJoy Health is at the forefront of developing innovative care models that cater to underserved populations. The organization's integrated care model is a testament to its commitment to providing patient-centered care that addresses the complex needs of high-risk women. Through its programs, LunaJoy Health aims to improve health outcomes, ensuring a healthier future for all families.
Media Contact
Shama Rathi, LunaJoy, 1 610-420-1724, [email protected], hellolunajoy.com
SOURCE LunaJoy
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