Proximie is being deployed across a number of NHS sites, to support the national efforts to fight COVID-19.
Proximie uses a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and augmented reality, aimed to empower surgeons and clinicians, to virtually and practically interact with each other from anywhere.
The platform, which was founded by Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram FRCS (Plast), BEM, consultant plastic surgeon and head of clinical innovation at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, is being used across a host of NHS sites, as the country battles the pandemic. From enabling self-isolating clinicians to remotely support colleagues on the front line, to virtually connecting MDTs for hand trauma and cancer management, so that every clinician can connect and collaborate off site during COVID-19, the platform is being applied in a number of different ways to support and amplify frontline clinicians.
Using augmented reality, healthcare practitioners can remotely interact in a procedure or assessment from start to finish, and mentor a local clinician through a live operation, in a visually and intuitive way. An internet-connected device allows them to view a live camera feed of the assessment or operation, provide verbal instructions, draw or overlay important patient scans or X-rays, and virtually reach into the clinical field to provide precise guidance. In the battle against COVID-19, Proximie is being deployed to connect self-isolating healthcare clinicians to support those on the front line, to share expertise and provide the best possible patient care and force multiply the expertise available to as many patients and sites as possible.
Proximie can be deployed quickly and is managed remotely by a specialist implementation team. This solution is GDPR and HIPAA compliant and has been deployed in over 50 hospitals around the globe, completing more than 300 surgeries each month, in 30 countries. Originally designed for surgeons, Proximie is being deployed by the Ministry of Defence to improve front line trauma surgery.
Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram said: “COVID-19 is going to have a profound and lasting impact on the future of healthcare and how we practice. Not just surgery, but the discussion around how and if remote healthcare support is possible? We have shown that it is: whether that’s connecting a surgeon in real-time from Cairo to London to support a trauma patient, or connecting an NHS doctor in Rochdale to support a diagnosis in London. We’re here to provide a solution for the NHS and help keep its workers safe. Necessity is the mother of invention, and healthcare needs to embrace technology. It works and can help save lives.
“We must use a pragmatic, collaborative and innovative approach to meet the challenges presented by this viral pandemic. Incorporating integrated technologies like Proximie into routine or complex practices can seamlessly maximise healthcare resources, scale the delivery of expertise, reduce transmission of the virus, and ultimately ensure that every single patient has access to the best possible care, regardless of where they are in the world.”
