Hear from Daysix’s Head of Software, Ben Beaumont, on the journey of the Trauma App.
Daysix is the software agency behind the development of the Trauma App. Ben is co-founding Director and key to the development journey and success of the app. He recently shared some insights and learnings at MedTech Connect: West of Scotland Innovation Forum hosted by CodeBase in Glasgow in August.
Here’s some key highlights of what Ben shared on the journey to commercialisation, the successes and the challenges involved.
Understanding the Trauma App
To appreciate our journey, it’s essential to understand what the Trauma app is. Initially, we aimed to solve a specific problem in trauma care by generating data and insights to help teams transition to digital tools and ultimately improve care delivery and patient outcomes.
Despite being seven years in, the app is now live in a few sites, with many pilots ongoing. This highlights the long road to commercialisation, even for successful projects. Innovate UK funded us, and statistics show that only one in twenty projects manage to commercialise successfully.
The Importance of Clinical Collaboration
The key takeaway from our journey is the importance of clinical collaboration. Success in this field is impossible without the involvement of dedicated people. Over the years, we’ve had numerous key moments, both positive and challenging. We started with a brilliant clinical team and a motivated digital team, driven by a desire to learn and make an impact rather than just making money.
Early Prototyping and Validation
One of our significant early steps was creating a prototype with minimal funding. The clinical teams integrated it into their training, providing crucial early validation. This feedback was vital in deciding to commit more deeply to the project. The clinicians even demonstrated the prototype at a trauma conference, gaining positive feedback from their peers, which boosted our confidence to seek further funding.
Securing Funding and Building a Consortium
Innovate UK awarded us half a million pounds, thanks to the strong consortium we built. Our success wasn’t just about a good application; it was about having a clinical research group, a national network, and support from various centres. Building good collaborative groups before seeking funding significantly increases the chances of success.
Challenges and Mistakes
We faced several challenges, particularly around clinical safety. Initially, we spent unnecessary time trying to get ISO 13485 certified as a medical device. External advice helped us realise that our app wasn’t a medical device, allowing us to focus on roll-out. The advice to wait until we were generating significant revenue before revisiting medical device regulations was invaluable.
Conclusion
Our journey with the Trauma app has been long and challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. The key to our success has been clinical collaboration, early validation, and building strong partnerships. We hope our experiences can provide valuable insights for others in the field.
