A Conversation with James Maher, M.D., MSHA, FACOG, FAIUM, Section Chief, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center
“The Marani app allows me to meaningfully stay in touch with my patients and monitor their physiology — without them having to make that drive twice a week.”
— James Maher, MD, Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center
Q: Dr. Maher, please describe your patient population and the challenges you’re trying to solve.
A: Augusta University is a tertiary referral center serving a wide swath of Georgia and rural South Carolina. Many of our patients are high-risk and live hours away. Even if we had more clinic slots, getting here is tough — some can’t take time off work or afford childcare or gas. They want to stay compliant, but life gets in the way.
Q: How does the Marani platform help bridge that gap?
A: Marani lets me stay connected in a meaningful way. I can monitor daily weights, blood pressures, and symptoms remotely. If I see red-flag values, we reach out right away. It helps us identify patients who are getting sick sooner and intervene faster.
Q: Has it changed how you manage hospital admissions?
A: Absolutely. Before, we often admitted patients for close monitoring because there wasn’t another safe way to track them. Now, many can stay home. I can tweak medications, see their vitals, and confirm they’re stable — without the cost or stress of hospitalization. That’s better for patients and more efficient for the system.
Q: Can you share a patient story that stands out?
A: One patient’s last pregnancy ended in tragedy with severe preeclampsia at 27 weeks. This time, we used Marani to monitor her throughout. She could message us anytime, and we could reassure her when things looked good. She made it to 37 weeks and delivered a healthy 7-pound baby. That’s the difference continuous, connected care makes.
Q: How has this affected workflow and outcomes overall?
A: It’s improved both. Remote monitoring reduces unnecessary in-person visits and opens up slots for those who truly need to be seen. For instance, our diabetic patients upload their glucose readings directly into Marani. We can adjust insulin doses in real time — no need to wait a week for follow-up. That’s more efficient and leads to stronger outcomes.
Q: What’s the biggest benefit of using Marani?
A: Peace of mind — for both providers and patients. I don’t worry as much because I can see how they’re doing daily. The readings are more accurate since they’re taken at home, not under “white coat” stress. We’re catching complications earlier and helping more moms make it safely to term.
The Marani Advantage
- Improved Access: Reduces the need for frequent in-person visits.
- Operational Efficiency: Opens clinic capacity for higher-acuity patients.
- Better Outcomes: Enables early intervention and longer, healthier pregnancies.
- Economic Value: Cuts unnecessary hospital stays and costs.