Closing Gaps: Healthcare disparities faced by women, particularly women of color, are a pressing issue in today’s medical landscape. Gender and racial biases in healthcare have led to inequities in treatment, access, and outcomes. However, advancements in digital tools and technologies, including femtech, are beginning to pave the way toward a more inclusive and supportive healthcare system. These platforms are empowering women, particularly women of color, by offering access to healthcare professionals who understand their specific needs and challenges.
Closing Gaps:
One such example is Health In Her HUE, a digital platform designed to connect women of color with healthcare providers who are committed to addressing their unique health concerns. Created by Ashlee Wisdom, Health In Her HUE emerged as a response to the systemic biases Wisdom observed and experienced in healthcare. After leaving a toxic work environment that impacted her health, Wisdom turned her focus to the disparities she had studied as a public health student and began to create a solution.
“I had my own experience of seeing how racism impacts your health, and I saw all of this innovation happening in healthcare, but I didn’t see anyone at that time building anything that addressed the specific pain points that Black women and women of color tend to have when navigating the healthcare system,” Wisdom told Business Insider. Health In Her HUE addresses these pain points by offering a space where women can find culturally responsive healthcare professionals, participate in virtual peer-support groups, and access relevant medical information.
The Growing Femtech Industry
Health In Her HUE is part of a larger trend known as femtech—technology designed to address women’s health and wellness. According to a report by FemHealth Insights, femtech has experienced rapid growth, with over 60% of companies in the sector being founded between 2017 and 2022. This growth highlights the increasing demand for healthcare solutions tailored to the needs of women.
Historically, women’s healthcare has been hindered by challenges such as biases in medical research and a shortage of specialized providers. Conditions that disproportionately affect women, like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), have been under-researched and underfunded. This lack of attention has left many women feeling unheard and underserved by the healthcare system.
The femtech industry is helping to bridge these gaps by offering women-centric solutions that focus on accessibility and personalized care. Telehealth, medical apps, and digital platforms like Health In Her HUE allow women to connect with healthcare providers without the need for in-person appointments. These tools are especially beneficial for women of color, who often face additional barriers in accessing quality care due to systemic racism and cultural insensitivity in healthcare settings.
Healthcare Access for Women of Color
For Black women and women of color, healthcare disparities are even more pronounced. These women are more likely to face challenges in accessing affordable, quality healthcare, are disproportionately burdened by chronic conditions, and are more likely to experience discrimination in medical settings. Health In Her HUE was designed to help these women navigate a healthcare system that often overlooks their needs.
Through the platform, users can search for healthcare providers based on factors such as insurance coverage, specialties, and location. This personalized approach allows women to find providers who understand their unique cultural and social experiences. One Health In Her HUE user, for example, was able to get a diagnosis of PCOS after feeling ignored by other doctors. Another user drove three hours to meet with a Black gastroenterologist she found through the platform because she believed that a Black doctor would take her symptoms more seriously.
By offering culturally competent care, Health In Her HUE helps to alleviate some of the disparities faced by women of color in the healthcare system. However, Wisdom recognizes that while her platform offers an important solution, it is not the ultimate fix. “We don’t want Black patients to always feel like they need to be seen by a Black healthcare provider,” she said. “They should feel comfortable and confident knowing that any provider they engage with can provide them with high-quality care.” For now, though, platforms like Health In Her HUE are essential in providing women of color with the care they need and deserve.
Telehealth and the Rise of Digital Health Solutions
One of the key factors driving the growth of femtech and digital health solutions is the increasing accessibility of telemedicine. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth as in-person appointments became limited. Telemedicine allows patients to consult with healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes, offering a level of convenience and privacy that many find appealing.
Smisha Agarwal, executive director of the Center for Global Digital Health Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, noted that the pandemic created a culture shift in healthcare. “In 2020, because we were left with no alternative, there was a massive increase in online services, which created a culture shift for providers and clients,” Agarwal said. This shift made the healthcare sector more open to remote tools like telehealth and medical apps, which have been instrumental in addressing the power imbalances often present in clinical settings.
Digital health platforms not only provide convenience but also help to reduce the disparities that women of color face when accessing care. For example, Midi Health, a virtual care clinic designed for women experiencing menopause and perimenopause, provides access to specialists through telehealth appointments. Co-founded by Joanna Strober, Midi Health allows women to discuss symptoms like hot flashes and brain fog with licensed healthcare providers who specialize in midlife health. Strober started the platform after encountering her own challenges in finding care for menopause.
Investing in Women’s Health
The rise of femtech and digital health solutions is a reflection of the growing demand for better healthcare options for women. Venture-capital funding for women’s health companies surged by 314% between 2018 and 2023, according to a report by Silicon Valley Bank. Investors are beginning to recognize the potential of femtech to address the unmet needs of women, and platforms like Health In Her HUE and Midi Health are leading the way.
Strober, for example, raised $60 million in a Series B funding round for Midi Health in 2023, while Wisdom’s Health In Her HUE raised $3 million in a seed round in January 2024. These investments are crucial for the continued development and expansion of digital health solutions that cater to women’s unique healthcare needs.
Conclusion: A New Era for Women’s Healthcare
Digital tools like Health In Her HUE and Midi Health are revolutionizing women’s healthcare by addressing long-standing disparities and offering accessible, personalized care. By leveraging telemedicine and other digital platforms, women—particularly women of color—can now access healthcare providers who understand their needs and provide culturally competent care.
As these platforms continue to grow and evolve, they offer a glimpse of a future where healthcare is more equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of women. By investing in and supporting femtech, we can help close the healthcare gap for women and create a system that truly serves everyone.