UK health technology platform Proximie is working with Vodafone Business to bring 5G, IoT and edge computing to operating theatres.

As part of Proximie’s mission to save lives by sharing the world’s best clinical practices, the partnership aims to build on the existing relationship between the two companies bringing connected surgical care software together with technologies from Vodafone Business, including 5G, IoT and edge computing.  

The partnership should accelerate the roll-out of Proximie’s platform as it looks to grow more rapidly in 2022 and beyond, and should increase access to digital surgical technology for patients and healthcare professionals. This will address two of the main challenges in healthcare: making healthcare service delivery more efficient and providing better training for the healthcare workforce, both vital in addressing current surgical backlogs and improving patient outcomes.

Data are compelling on the effect of the pandemic in healthcare and the need for technology such as Proximie. Current estimations suggest 2.4 million operations will have been cancelled by the end of 2021, and a report by the British Medical Association forecasts that by 2043, medical workforce shortages could be up to over 80,000 doctors.

Proximie is creating a global network of operating rooms interconnected by best clinicians to create a vision where as many incisions as possible are informed by artificial intelligence, and clinicians are empowered with real-time diagnostics, data and analysis. Healthcare experts can virtually scrub-in, record and interact with any connected operating room in the world to enable, accelerate and improve surgical mentoring, proctoring and technical expertise.

“Proximie has started 2022 with huge momentum with this latest partnership announcement,” said Nadine Hachach-Haram, CEO of Proximie. “Having the best connectivity is imperative for delivering digital health services at scale, so we are thrilled to partner with Vodafone Business to leverage its 5G capabilities and cutting-edge technologies such as edge computing. Building on our existing relationship will accelerate the roll-out of our platform in the UK and across Europe. We will be able to provide connected surgical care to a wider audience and continue delivering impact by sharing the best clinical practice and ultimately saving lives.”

Mark Allinson, business development director at Vodafone Business, added: “This partnership with Proximie cements our existing relationship and will be an enabler of their connected surgical care through increased access to Vodafone’s technologies and platforms.”

The Vodafone Centre for Health with Deloitte is committed to helping more people gain access to healthcare by increasing the number of connected options for patients and healthcare professionals.

“We understand the critical role technology will play in transforming healthcare and, by bringing together Proximie’s expertise and Vodafone’s capabilities, we can accelerate the innovation needed to drive efficiencies and improve patient care,” said Allinson.

Founded by Hachach-Haram, Proximie has conducted tens of thousands of surgical interactions and is deployed in more than 500 hospitals across 50 countries. It has contracts with over 35 major medical device companies with access to 90% of operating rooms and diagnostic suites in the UK, USA and EU.