Pullman hospital updates equipment
New surgical machinery will hopefully make Pullman more attractive to specifically physiciansPublished 11/9/2011
Comments (0)Pullman Regional Hospital purchased a $2 million robotic surgical system that will improve patient healing time and pain management.
The hospital’s Board of Commissioners voted to purchase the da Vinci Si Surgical System at Wednesday’s meeting, commissioner Michael Murphy said. Murphy said the robots are primarily used by urologists, and the hospital needed to buy the robots in order to recruit new surgeons.
“Modern surgery, especially prostate surgery, is being done with this robotic machine in all the training programs,” Murphy said. “Urologists expect when they go to work at a hospital after their training that the hospital will have the machine.”
According to intuitivesurgical.com, the da Vinci Si system features advanced 3D HD visualization of the surgical site and motion technology that increases the motor capabilities of the surgeon.
Hospital CEO Scott Adams said the purchase is being finalized, and the robot will be delivered by the middle of the month and will be used in surgeries in December.
He said the technology will reduce travel time for patients. Many patients requiring urological surgery were forced to travel to Spokane or Seattle where such technology was available.
According to a hospital press release, 85 percent of prostate removals are conducted using robotic surgery. The robot in Pullman will also be used for gynecological procedures and gall bladder surgery.
Adams said while benefits such as shorter recovery time and smaller incisions cannot be ignored, the primary reason for introducing the technology was making Pullman an attractive place for specialty physicians.
“We determined if we still want to provide urology services at our hospital, we needed to have this equipment,” he said.
Adams said several surgeons will be training on the technology. Pullman urologist John Keizur is among them. Keizur said he will be observing cases, practicing surgery on a pig and performing a simulation that mimics the surgeries he will be performing.
“It’s not really the future, it’s what’s here now,” Keizur said. “It is something we can assure to the patient is completely safe. Even though it is a new procedure here, it is common across the country.”
“Modern surgery, especially prostate surgery, is being done with this robotic machine in all the training programs,” Murphy said. “Urologists expect when they go to work at a hospital after their training that the hospital will have the machine.”
According to intuitivesurgical.com, the da Vinci Si system features advanced 3D HD visualization of the surgical site and motion technology that increases the motor capabilities of the surgeon.
Hospital CEO Scott Adams said the purchase is being finalized, and the robot will be delivered by the middle of the month and will be used in surgeries in December.
He said the technology will reduce travel time for patients. Many patients requiring urological surgery were forced to travel to Spokane or Seattle where such technology was available.
According to a hospital press release, 85 percent of prostate removals are conducted using robotic surgery. The robot in Pullman will also be used for gynecological procedures and gall bladder surgery.
Adams said while benefits such as shorter recovery time and smaller incisions cannot be ignored, the primary reason for introducing the technology was making Pullman an attractive place for specialty physicians.
“We determined if we still want to provide urology services at our hospital, we needed to have this equipment,” he said.
Adams said several surgeons will be training on the technology. Pullman urologist John Keizur is among them. Keizur said he will be observing cases, practicing surgery on a pig and performing a simulation that mimics the surgeries he will be performing.
“It’s not really the future, it’s what’s here now,” Keizur said. “It is something we can assure to the patient is completely safe. Even though it is a new procedure here, it is common across the country.”
