Mark Gittins, DO, FAOAO, an orthopedic surgeon with OrthoNeuro in Columbus, Ohio, has formed a partnership with Avail Medsystems, Inc. for remote physician surgical training. Avail, based in Palo Alto, California, is known for its Procedural Telemedicine™ solution that helps remove physical, economic and logistical barriers to “whenever, wherever “collaboration.
This partnership will enable Dr. Gittins to use the Avail system to teach robotic hip and knee reconstruction worldwide, performing the remote procedures at New Albany Surgery Center. Also part of the arrangement is Smith+Nephew, which has teamed up with Avail Medsystems to provide remote, real-time collaboration services in the operation room. Smith+Nephew is the first orthopedic company to use the Avail System and is bringing this remote collaboration to facilities across its customer base.
“The Avail technology gives us the worldwide ability to educate and exchange ideas in the real time surgical arena,” said Dr.Gittins. “We see a huge opportunity to advance patient care in arthritis surgery. This is an exciting time for all of the parties involved.”
Per the company press release, “Avail’s Procedural Telemedicine System facilitates medical expertise sharing and collaboration during live procedures by connecting physicians in the operating room to remote medical industry professionals and healthcare providers, enabling physicians to deliver the right knowledge, at the right time, regardless of location. The System was built by a team with deep expertise in medical technology and healthcare who understand the day-to-day needs of medical experts.”
According to Avail, its Procedural Telemedicine System is “comprised of a portable Console that is placed in New Albany Surgery Center, the Avail Portal which enables a network of connectivity, and the Avail Remote App that allows a remote healthcare expert to control the Console’s two high-definition pan-tilt-zoom cameras, plug-ins for surgical imaging and large display monitor in New Albany Surgery Center’s operating room. A healthcare professional accesses the software platform remotely from an iPad or laptop to instantly join a procedure, control the console’s cameras and surgical imaging views and speak directly with the treating physician. It’s intuitive and easy to use.”
“We created Avail with surgeons like Dr. Gittens in mind,” said Avail CEO Daniel Hawkins. “We’re thrilled to partner with OrthoNeuro and enable Dr. Gittens to broadcast procedures worldwide. Our mission is to use technology to eliminate physical boundaries to collaboration, information sharing and education, and ultimately accelerate training, new product adoption, and healthcare innovation as well as to universalize access to medical expertise.”
Dr. Gittins told OTW, “This is a collaboration with Smith+Nephew, Avail, and the New Albany Surgery Center. All parties played a role in building the program, which will assist in education for professionals and patients in the new era of limited direct contact.”
When OTW asked why Avail was the right choice, Dr. Gittins commented, “Avail is the best partner due to their advanced technology in the field. They have a cost effective nimble footprint that functions great with educating and demonstrating surgical techniques. This concept is very important with today’s educational environment and the robotic orthopedic world.”
