Royal Orthopaedic Hospital pilots VitVio to boost surgical safety

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) NHS Foundation Trust has launched a pilot programme with VitVio to enhance the safety and efficiency of surgical procedures.

VitVio is a London-based startup that integrates AI into healthcare to address inefficiencies in hospitals.

With cameras and sensors installed in operating theatres and integrated with the hospital’s existing health information systems, VitVio’s AI algorithms operate track and analyse aspects of the surgical procedure—from tool usage and surgical stages to adherence to safety protocols.

This real-time data is accessible to medical professionals via a dashboard, providing updates on surgery progress, estimates of remaining times, and alerts for deviations from standard protocols.

Steve Washbourne, executive director of finance at the ROH, said: “We are excited to be partnering with VitVio to take advantage of advances in technology that will help us drive improvement in our theatres.

“The NHS faces significant challenges, so we need to be innovative to find solutions. New technology is one area we have been keen to explore – though this collaboration isn’t just about advanced technology.

“It is about empowering our staff with the tools they need to focus on what matters most – providing the best care for patients. By streamlining processes, we’re looking forward to a more efficient surgical experience.”

VitVio’s insights are aimed at helping to schedule surgeries more efficiently, plan resource allocation, and make informed decisions to improve overall operating room utilisation. The platform’s analytics also offer valuable feedback for continuous improvement in surgical practices and patient care.

Post-surgery, VitVio provides detailed reports, identifying successes and opportunities for improvement, and encouraging continuous learning opportunities. These insights fuel debriefing sessions for surgical teams to review performance, address flagged issues, and plan enhancements.

Cumulative data gathered by VitVio aids in understanding surgical operations and guiding evidence-based strategies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate patient safety.

Thomas Knox, cofounder and chief executive at VitVio, said: “The ROH is known as one of the UK’s leading institutions in terms of outcomes and efficiency and, naturally, they have decided to utilise our platform and leverage the cutting-edge AI technology to even further increase the efficiency of surgical procedures.

“By autonomously tracking surgical processes and tools, VitVio minimises the potential for human error and adds no extra steps to the surgical process, aligning with industry experts’ consensus on the importance of non-intrusive technology.”

VitVio recently raised €1.8 million (£1.5m) in pre-seed funding to expand its platform’s capabilities and deploy the technology across hospitals in the US, UK and Europe. Following the partnership with ROH, more collaborations with hospitals are expected soon.

Gavin Newman, head of digital transformation at the ROH, spoke exclusively to Digital Health News in February 2024 about some of the trust’s key digital initiatives, challenges in digitising and goals for the future.