Highlighting Digital Transformation in the NHS: South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC) and Definition Health

Definition Health, a DigitalHealth.London Accelerator alumnus company, has partnered with South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC) to implement a remote surgical care pathway that has improved patient safety, clinical efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

The South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC) has made significant strides in modernising post-operative care by using Definition Health‘s innovative technology to deliver better patient outcomes and serve as a model for NHS reform.

Founded by hospital doctors, software engineers and business managers, Definition Health uniquely delivers a personalised, digital approach to surgery for patients and hospitals; offering maximum flexibility in how hospitals communicate with, perform pre-assessment on, and rehabilitate patients, wherever they may be. Definition Health drives clinical excellence into pre-assessment and post-discharge pathways, through a personalised but standardised approach to collecting critical health information from the patient, increasing hospital efficiencies and clinical outcomes.

This success was recognised at this year’s HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2024, where SWLEOC won the Virtual or Remote Care Initiative of the Year and the Safety Improvement through Technology Award, while being highly commended in the ‘Patient Safety in Elective Recovery’ category. SWLEOC was also shortlisted in the HSJ Awards Digitising Patient Care Award category and a Nursing Times Award in the Theatre and Surgical Nursing category.

SWLEOC and Definition Health have worked closely to develop a remote monitoring post-operative pathway that is much safer, more interactive, and efficient for patients. The two-way conversation really alleviates patients’ anxiety, and they have confidence in their recovery. The clinical team is able to identify and escalate any concerns immediately, and the patient has access to the right clinician at the right time, with significant improvement in outpatient clinic capacity.

Boudine Pearce
Strategic Lead for Elective Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Services at SWLEOC

SWLEOC’s and Definition Health’s successful partnership has also been featured on media specials highlighting virtual wards as a key solution to some of the NHS’s most pressing challenges, including BBC’s report Six NHS Schemes That Could Help Fix the Health Service and a television segment on ITV News.

SWLEOC’s award nominations and subsequent wins were based on the findings of a recent study into the benefits of implementing a virtual ward. The study explored how Definition Health’s Definition Recovery platform provided a personalised recovery pathway, enhancing patient care and efficiency. Key highlights include:

Remote monitoring for personalised care

• Patients self-reported their pain levels, functionality, and wound recovery through digital diaries, monitored by clinical teams for timely and individualised care.

Efficiency gains

• The Recovery solution helped reduce consultant wait times from 16 weeks to 12 weeks, freeing up resources and improving follow-up times. The study found that 93% of patients were suitable for discharge to a Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) pathway, saving 520 consultant clinic slots, which equates to 34 half-day clinics (measured over eight months).

Improved patient safety

• Infection rates for Total Hip Replacement (THR) and Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgeries showed a declining trend, while readmission rates remained below the national median.

Environmental impact

• The move to remote monitoring also contributed to environmental benefits, with a reduction of 1,120 kilograms of carbon emissions, equating to approximately 2 kilograms of carbon saved per patient.

Positive feedback

• Patient feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many appreciating the reassurance provided by being monitored remotely. Staff also viewed the Recovery solution as a significant improvement, allowing for proactive, personalised care and enhancing patient safety.

Our collaboration with SWLEOC demonstrates the power of digital health technology in transforming patient care. By using our virtual wards and post-operative monitoring solutions, we’re seeing measurable improvements in patient outcomes and hospital efficiency. As the NHS continues its digital journey, we look forward to helping more healthcare providers leverage these technologies to deliver safer, more efficient care.

Sandeep Chauhan
CEO and Co-Founder of Definition Health

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme is funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It is delivered by the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London in partnership with the Office of Life Sciences, CW+, Medicity, NHS England and the Mayor of London.

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-
shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.