In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, the integration of technology into surgical training represents a groundbreaking shift. At the heart of this transformation is the remarkable collaboration between the Kenya Education Network (KENET) and Proximie, a partnership that has revolutionized the way surgical knowledge is shared and advanced. KENET, renowned for providing dedicated internet bandwidth to educational and research institutions, has been instrumental in enabling this digital transformation by offering stable and fast internet connections. This connectivity ensures that member institutions like Tenwek Hospital and PCEA Kikuyu Hospital can efficiently utilize cutting-edge digital tools such as Proximie for medical training and practice.

Proximie has brought about a revolution in surgical procedures by integrating telepresence, content management, and data insights. Its telepresence technology breaks down geographical barriers, allowing surgeons to participate in or observe surgeries remotely and in real-time. Surgeons at Tenwek and PCEA Kikuyu Hospitals can receive immediate guidance from world-class experts, no matter where they are, ensuring that critical knowledge is transferred at the exact moment it's needed, enhancing both patient safety and surgical outcomes.

Beyond telepresence, Proximie’s platform excels in content management by securely recording and storing surgeries, transforming these procedures into invaluable educational resources. This feature enables institutions like PCEA Kikuyu Hospital to build a comprehensive library of surgical knowledge, which can be edited, annotated, and shared for learning purposes. The ability to review past surgeries equips surgeons and medical students with the tools to consistently refine their skills and adopt best practices. Proximie's robust analytics further support continuous improvement, as surgical video data can be analysed to identify patterns, optimize workflows, and improve patient safety.

In the case of PCEA Kikuyu Hospital, KENET played a pivotal role in enabling the use of Proximie by extending a 1-gigabyte fiber connection directly to the hospital’s theatre. "We powered the theatre directly with KENET fiber without bypassing the entire LAN," KENET’s Technical Lead, Network Operations Center explained. Initially, KENET had only been present at Kikuyu Hospital as a backup internet provider, not the primary connection. However, when Proximie approached KENET with the need for high-quality connectivity, KENET offered to connect them using Kikuyu’s 20Mbps backup link.

The story of Makueni Hospital further illustrates KENET’s crucial involvement in supporting remote surgical sessions. A member of the Surgical Society of Kenya reached out to KENET with a request for high-quality connectivity to facilitate remote surgical training. Recognizing the hospital's connectivity challenge, KENET extended its fiber line, which was passing near the hospital, directly into the theatre. This solved the issue of low-quality connectivity, enabling smooth surgical sessions and improving the quality of care delivered during remote operations.

The impact of Proximie, in collaboration with KENET, on medical training has been transformative. KENET’s provision of stable and reliable internet ensures that Proximie’s advanced digital platform is easily accessible, enabling hospitals to broadcast surgeries, receive expert feedback in real-time, and share procedural insights globally. This synergy enhances surgical education by providing local surgeons with access to international expertise and empowers medical students with hands-on learning experiences from real surgical cases.

Together, KENET and Proximie are redefining the future of surgical education and training. By ensuring hospitals have the necessary internet infrastructure, KENET is playing a pivotal role in elevating the quality of healthcare education across Kenya. This collaboration bridges the gap between local institutions and international expertise, democratizing access to advanced surgical training and ultimately leading to improved patient care and safety.