During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has created many challenges, especially in the medical field, especially when carrying out operations. But it actually sparked innovation and major changes in surgical practice.
Like the incredible story of two doctors Archie Fernando and Nadine Hachach-Haram, where the two of them work together to cross thousands of miles using a robotic system to save a man's life.
In April 2020 during the UK's pandemic lockdown, urologist Archie Fernando contacted his colleague Nadine Hachach-Haram, a reconstructive plastic surgeon at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital. They want to help in any way they can as most of the surgeries are postponed.
Hachach-Haram who is also the CEO and founder of a healthcare technology startup called Proximie has created an augmented reality platform that enables remote collaboration among surgeons. This technology enables real-time communication and sharing of surgical procedures through web-based software.
Fernando faces a challenging operation, a patient named Mo Tajer has testicular cancer which has spread to his stomach, Fernando also chooses robotic keyhole surgery, but Hachach-Haram has no experience with it, he uses Proximie, a platform that connects him with Jim Porter a surgeon based in the US who are experts in this technique. Porter remotely guides him using augmented reality.
The surgery took place on May 21, 2020. Fernando operated the robot near Mo, while Porter provided his advice from Seattle. They worked together for 5 hours and completed the operation successfully.
This is a great achievement for Proximie and its founder, a surgeon who wants to increase access to quality care globally.
Hachach-Haram created Proximie to enable surgeons to learn, collaborate, and share expertise across borders and in real time. Prior to the pandemic, the venture was already in operation in 30 countries but the crisis accelerated its adoption so the company's team worked tirelessly to perfect and expand the technology.
As routine surgery ceases, Proximie becomes an important tool for remote support and training, benefiting both experienced surgeons seeking assistance and trainees who do not have training opportunities.
The platform's capabilities extend beyond in-person surgery - Proximie's online library stores thousands of surgical session recordings, enabling surgeons to review, edit, and mark up recordings for training and debriefing purposes. This huge collection of surgical videos has become the largest database of its kind.
The impact of Proximie on surgical practice is enormous. Its adoption has increased with over 20% of NHS hospitals in England now having access to the software.
Surgeons around the world have leveraged the platform to enhance their skills, and trainees are getting unprecedented access to hands-on educational and surgical resources.
Nadine Hachach-Haram's vision of a digital operating system has become a reality, revolutionizing surgical practice and transcending the limitations of traditional surgical training.
Through Proximie, surgeons can collaborate, study, and improve patient outcomes, regardless of their physical location. Robotic surgery that dared to save a man's life heralds the dawn of a new era in surgical advancement and global healthcare collaboration.