Can Remote Surgeries Digitally Transform Operating Rooms?
Sep 12, 2023
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This podcast discusses Proximie, a platform that uses mixed reality and digital tools to improve communication and mentorship in operating rooms. It explores the challenges of integrating medical technology, the potential of remote mentorship in surgeries, Proximie's strategy for partnering and digital transformation, and the future vision and challenges of digital transformation in healthcare.
Proximie's platform uses XR technology to create borderless operating rooms, allowing remote viewing, mentoring, and feedback for surgeons in multiple locations, addressing the shortage of surgical expertise worldwide.
By capturing data from various medical technologies and leveraging XR technology, Proximie's innovation transforms the operating room into a connected and data-rich environment, holding promise for improving surgical safety, outcomes, and fostering educational opportunities.
Deep dives
Proxomy: Redefining Surgery with XR Technology
Proxomy is a digital innovation in surgery that aims to create borderless operating rooms using XR technology. By digitally capturing both siloed data from existing medical equipment and unstructured contextual data during surgeries, Proxomy provides a platform for remote viewing, mentoring, and feedback. This technology allows surgeons to be virtually present in multiple locations, addressing the shortage of surgical expertise and expanding access to safe surgery for the 5 billion people worldwide who currently lack it. The company's vision is to be in every operating room globally, and they are strategically partnering with integrated delivery networks and medical device companies to scale their business.
The Potential of Digitizing Operating Rooms
Proxomy's innovation in surgery transforms the traditionally non-digitized operating room into a connected and data-rich environment. By capturing data from various medical technologies and leveraging XR technology, Proxomy provides multiple camera angles and real-time interaction for remote observers, fostering educational opportunities and mentorship. The platform also holds promise for improving surgical safety and outcomes by capturing contextual data and facilitating evidence-based practices. Proxomy's approach challenges traditional notions of digitizing healthcare and invites a broader exploration of the value that digital transformation can bring.
Overcoming Challenges and Scaling the Business
Proxomy faces challenges in scaling its product, such as sales to hospitals and gaining access to operating room equipment. They are addressing these challenges by partnering with integrated delivery networks, medical device companies, and telecom companies. The company aims to be in every operating room globally, and their strategy involves identifying beachhead markets and establishing partnerships with organizations already embedded in the healthcare ecosystem. Proxomy's vision and digital data strategy position them to make a significant impact in healthcare, redefining the possibilities of surgery using XR technology.
Launched in 2016, Proximie was a platform that enabled clinicians, proctors, and medical device company personnel to be virtually present in operating rooms, where they would use mixed reality and digital audio and visual tools to communicate with, mentor, assist, and observe those performing medical procedures. The goal was to improve patient outcomes.
The company had grown quickly, and its technology had been used in tens of thousands of procedures in more than 50 countries and 500 hospitals. It had raised close to $50 million in equity financing and was now entering strategic partnerships to broaden its reach. Founder and CEO Nadine Hachach-Haram aspired for Proximie to become a platform that powered every operating room in the world, but she had to carefully consider the company’s partnership and data strategies in order to scale. What approach would position the company best for the next stage of growth?