Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision to Deliver Surgery at Scale in a Post-COVID-19 World

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COVID-19 has placed our healthcare services under extraordinary pressure. The decision to prioritise hospital capacity for COVID-19 and cancel planned surgery, to free up crucial resources, is the only option under these circumstances. However, this decision will have lasting consequences for both our society and healthcare system; 2.1+ million patients have had their surgery canceled, ([The Independent, 2020][0]), 33% of which are orthopaedic surgery (Royal College of Surgeons).With waiting lists already long (British Orthopaedic Association, 2020), these new, added cancellations will create an unprecedented burden, lasting years beyond the outbreak of COVID-19, with Patients potentially waiting years for treatment, with limited access to the support they need.When surgery returns, healthcare providers will need to continue to protect the "at risk age group" from COVID 19, avoiding unnecessary hospital appointments, and keeping inpatient admissions to a minimum.Technology can support the increased scale at which hospitals deliver orthopaedic surgery, freeing up healthcare professionals' time and reducing the cost of care. The introduction of remote monitoring can keep vulnerable patients safe, facilitate day case surgery and reduce complications and in-person appointments.Accurate clinical assessment of joint function (range of motion) is a key component to monitoring orthopaedic patients. This assessment supports decisions from rehabilitation to progress with recovery. Traditionally this assessment is delivered in-person by either a surgeon or physical therapist using a goniometer.We have developed technology using computer vision AI that can be remotely accessed through a smartphone camera. This independently-validated technology can provide clinical teams with the information they need to carry out assessments of joint function remotely.We propose to productise this technology through our mature, established digital orthopaedic patient engagement platform, that is already deployed within leading orthopaedic centres in the UK (NHS & Private), to deliver an end-to-end solution to remotely manage patients and enable widespread adoption.This proprietary, first-of-a-kind technology will provide immediate benefits to patients who are currently awaiting surgery without an operation date, whilst supporting healthcare providers deliver orthopaedic surgery at greater scale and protecting at-risk patients from COVID-19\.This technology will contribute to potential productivity gains of £120+ million per annum in the NHS by reducing the length of in-patient stay from 3 nights to 1 night for 40% of annual joint replacement procedures (200,000) and a further £12.5+ million by moving 10% of the 7.8 million of NHS trauma and orthopaedic outpatient clinics to virtual.[0]: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-nhs-operations-cancelled-cases-deaths-hospital-a9464726.html