From hospital corridors to surgical health pioneers: A case study from Definition Health

Definition Health is an award-winning provider of personalised digital health solutions for surgery. The company’s innovative platform which includes LifeBox, a digital pre-assessment tool and Definition Recovery, a post-operative virtual ward, supports surgical patients and clinicians across both the NHS and private healthcare sector.

In this case study, Co-founder Dr Rosie Scott MBBS FRCR, shares her experiences of co-founding the company and the support from both the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS).

From clinician to entrepreneur

My journey into clinical entrepreneurship wasn’t a planned career move, but an organic process that began in 2018. While working in the NHS, my business partner Mr Sandeep Chauhan MBBS FRCS FRCS (Tr & Orth.) and I both realised there were opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce unnecessary appointments and improve the patient experience. These shared frustrations and desire for change led to the creation of Definition Health.

We started from a deep understanding of the problems we faced daily in the NHS. As clinicians, we sought expert advice to see how digital health technology could address these challenges. Our company began small, behind two filing cabinets in a hospital, driven by our joint vision for improvement.

As Definition Health grew and we engaged with an increasing number of hospitals, we bought together a growing team of clinicians and expert developers. It was then that I realised my role was evolving – I was no longer just a medical professional, but also a businessperson. This shift brought new challenges and a better understanding of business concepts and technical terminology, which were initially unfamiliar to me as a physician. We have come a long way over the last six year and it’s been an amazing journey so far.

We’re now a team of 25, partnering with hospitals across the NHS and private healthcare sector and exploring new opportunities to collaborate with medical technology companies. Most importantly, though, we’re focused on growing the use of our smart surgical solutions to provide the benefits of an end-to-end digital pathway for surgical patients. The market has become highly competitive, especially after the pandemic, which reflects the significant demand and vital need for innovative digital health solutions.

Overcoming challenges

As an introvert, one of the biggest challenges I have faced is finding the confidence to present to audiences about our products, so I have had to find my inner extrovert and adapt. The journey has also led me to re-evaluate my professional identity, balancing my primary role as a Consultant Radiologist with my emerging identity as a clinical entrepreneur.

I also have learnt a lot about my strengths and how Sandeep and I have complementary skills. He has a vision of how Definition Health and our solutions can evolve to benefit even more patients and clinicians worldwide, while I focus on the detail of how we can deliver that for our customers. Both roles have been important to our success.

The value of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme

Being accepted on to the NHS CEP has provided brilliant networking opportunities and space to connect and co-create with similar individuals. A highlight was receiving one-on-one advice from Professor Tony Young, the programme’s founder. His guidance has really helped me to develop our idea and understand the best next steps.

The programme equipped me with crucial skills, including public speaking and career coaching, which helped boost my confidence and navigate potential challenges. For future participants, I recommend clearly defining your goals before starting. The programme will help you to develop your business idea and to establish a clear value proposition.

One of the most important lessons was the power of collaboration. Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be a solitary journey. It’s beneficial to partner with others when it makes sense, combining strengths to create more viable projects. I like to think of it as there are lots of stars in the sky and we can form little constellations if we work together more closely. I believe that while each entrepreneur’s journey is unique, the best ideas often emerge from collaboration rather than competition.

Working with Health Innovation KSS

Another pivotal part of our journey has been our relationship with Health Innovation KSS. My first interaction with the team focused on value propositions and understanding our audience, which highlighted the importance of using simple language that patients can understand.

Health Innovation KSS has played a crucial role in helping us to navigate the complexities of working with the NHS and expanding our reach beyond a single hospital. Their team has been an invaluable resource for making connections and overcoming challenges. They have consistently made time to support us, making this relationship incredibly valuable for our company.

Specifically, Health Innovation KSS has supported us to apply for and secure grants from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and Innovate UK. They also supported our work with the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. This project won the NHS Sustainability Partnership of the Year Award for our SBRI-funded study on carbon reduction through a personalised surgical journey.

Looking forward

 We continue to go from strength to strength. Our upcoming projects include:

•  Sharing our work on carbon reduction and Net Zero in collaboration with hospitals, including both University Hospitals Sussex and Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trusts. Our research has been presented at the prestigious British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) Annual Congress 2024.
• Bringing the proven benefits of our solutions to more patients by expanding into international markets. There is significant interest in our technology from US healthcare providers, especially since we were selected to join the UK-Florida Trade Corridor for Lifesciences.
• Continuing to help surgical teams worldwide recognise the postitive role digital health technologies can play in their clinics. Not least to address the growing capacity challenges our health systems are facing. This includes supporting hospitals as they invest in and implement solutions like ours.

As we continue to grow and deliver for our customers, I’m reminded why I started this journey, which was ultimately to help our patients get the best care they can. I’m so proud of what Definition Health has achieved so far in helping to improve surgical care and excited for what comes next. As I mentioned earlier, the key to any successful organisation is the power of collaboration, and I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance we have received from our own constellation of supporters, including the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex.

Further information

• Find out more about the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and eligibility here. Applications for cohort 9 are now open and will close on 29th October 2024
• If you would like to contact Health Innovation KSS about your innovation, please visit our innovator hub for details.
• To find out more about Definition Health and their Smart Surgery Solution, please visit their website here.