Smart Surgery Solution

A connected suite of digital tools supporting patients and care teams through every stage of surgery, improving outcomes, reducing costs, and unlocking capacity.

End-to-end digital pathway 

Elective surgery waiting lists continue to grow, placing immense strain on surgical teams and hospital resources. Traditional, paper-based pathways are often slow, fragmented, and prone to delays, increasing the risk of cancellations, readmissions, and poor patient experience.

Definition Health’s Smart Surgery Solution transforms this experience by digitising the entire surgical pathway, from initial referral to post-operative recovery. At its core is LifeBox, a clinically validated digital pre-operative assessment (ePOA) tool that streamlines patient assessments, ensures accurate data capture, and frees up valuable clinical time. Paired with our virtual ward solution, Recovery, and our secure communication platform, Connect, hospitals can build a truly end-to-end digital surgical journey.

Our platform is designed to improve surgical pathway efficiency, reduce reliance on face-to-face appointments, and support personalised care at scale. With seamless two-way communication and remote monitoring, it supports patients and care teams alike, improving outcomes, increasing theatre readiness, and unlocking capacity across outpatient and perioperative services.

 

The challenge

Manual processes, fragmented systems, and paper-heavy workflows continue to slow down surgical care. The impact? Inefficiencies that delay treatment, increase costs, and place added strain on both patients and staff.

The scale of the problem:

  • 6+ million UK patients waiting for elective surgery
  • 12 million pre-operative assessments needed annually
  • £35–72 spent per NHS patient on pre-op assessment
  • 1.4 million cancelled procedures annually
  • £30 million in legal claims linked to communication failures

Solving this crisis requires more than digitising forms, it means rethinking the surgical journey with connected, evidence-led digital tools.

Smart Surgery Solution

A connected suite of digital tools supporting patients and hospitals across every stage of the surgical journey, from pre-operative assessment to post-op recovery
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Connect

Secure online file sharing and digital video consultancy system which streamlines pre-and post-surgical consultations, ongoing patient recovery and patient discharge.

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Definition-LifeBox

LifeBox

Digital pre-operative assessment platform that optimises pre-assessments, facilitating hospital decision-making, enabling personalised care, and unlocking additional capacity.

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Definition-Recovery

Recovery

Virtual ward solution that enables self-reporting of symptoms during post-operative recovery, updating the hospital in real-time and red flagging patients requiring immediate assistance.

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Each module can be deployed independently or integrated as part of a complete digital pathway.
Whether you're looking to digitise pre-assessments, enhance communication, or support remote monitoring, our modular approach helps hospitals relieve pressure, improve outcomes, and increase capacity.

Watch to see how our Smart Surgery Solution delivers better care and efficiency across the entire surgical pathway.

Proven benefits of a digital pathway

Our Smart Surgery Solution isn’t just a digital upgrade, it’s a measurable step forward in safer, faster, more sustainable surgical care.

Efficiency gains

Digitising key stages of the surgical pathway improves clinical workflows, reduces admin, and frees up time for what matters most, patient care.

  • 60% reduction in face-to-face assessments
  • 3,060 outpatient appointments avoided
  • 1.92 hours saved per patient, on average

By removing unnecessary steps and automating routine tasks, hospitals can unlock new capacity and run more efficient services, even with limited resources.

Patient satisfaction

A more convenient, accessible, and transparent pathway keeps patients informed, engaged, and confident about their care.

  • 92% of pre-op assessments completed remotely
  • 96% patient satisfaction rate
  • 91% found education videos useful

Better engagement leads to better outcomes. Patients who understand their journey are more likely to attend appointments, follow instructions, and feel reassured throughout.

Cost savings

From reducing missed appointments to freeing up staff time, our platform helps healthcare providers use resources more effectively.

  • £150k in hospital savings in one year
  • 95% reduction in DNA rates
  • 39% return on investment 

With clearer communication, more accurate data, and fewer inefficiencies, hospitals can cut costs, boost capacity, and reduce the risk of litigation caused by communication failures.

“If patients are waiting a long time for surgery, a second pre-assessment will need to be undertaken to ensure there are no changes to the patient’s condition. With the LifeBox product, information can be updated virtually, ensuring patients do not need to have unnecessary visits to hospital.”

MANAGING DIRECTOR, SWLEOC Mary Richardson

“When COVID began, LifeBox really came into its own. Staff are interacting with LifeBox more than ever, and it ensures the pre-assessment process is as smooth and seamless as possible which in turn improves the quality of care and reduces risk to our patients.”

OUTPATIENT'S SERVICE MANAGER, HSJ & SE, LONDON Claire Manley

See our apps in action

For more information about Definition Health and how our personalised digital healthcare solutions can benefit your organisation, please contact us using the form below. Whether you're looking to enhance patient care, streamline operations, or stay ahead in healthcare, we're here to help. Let's discuss how our innovative apps can support your goals.