McKee expands robotic surgery program with second robot, technology
LOVELAND, Colo. (June 23, 2011) – Because of growth in the number of surgeries as well as the number of surgeons wanting to perform those surgeries, McKee Medical Center is expanding its robotic surgery program.
The hospital has added a second surgical robot, an additional surgeon console and a simulation training console. The training console is in operation, and operating room renovations to accommodate the second robot are under way.
With the addition of the second robot, physicians will have more flexibility to schedule procedures. The dual console allows two physicians to operate the surgical robot simultaneously. This can serve as an important training tool and provide valuable collaboration during a procedure.
“Patients do a lot of research prior to surgery and they are becoming increasingly aware of advantages associated with robotic surgery,” said John Crane, MD, gynecological surgeon with OB/GYN Associates in Loveland. “This additional robot, the additional console and the training device ensure that we remain on the forward edge of this evolving technology which provides so many benefits to our patients.”
The training console allows physicians to simulate actual procedures in a non-clinical setting. They can structure their own curriculum, review techniques, and warm up before an actual case.
“Banner Health and McKee Medical Center are committed to using the latest technology and education to ensure we deliver a patient experience that is safe, efficient and effective,” said Bert Honea, MD, chief medical officer for McKee. “This training console is an important part of that strategy.”
McKee began offering gynecologic and urologic robotic surgery in September 2009. In 2010, Intuitive Surgical Inc., the maker the daVinci® Si Surgical System, designated McKee as an epicenter for gynecologic surgery. McKee became a destination for surgeons from around the country to come here and observe a gynecologic procedure by Dr. Crane.
In May 2010, head and neck surgeon Sarvjit Gill, MD, performed the state’s first transoral robotic surgery. Earlier this year, general surgeons Thomas Blomquist, MD, and Jerome Collins, MD, began performing general surgeries with the robot.
Since the addition of the robot, prostate, kidney and bladder procedures performed robotically also have increased dramatically.
Currently 14 surgeons on staff perform robotic procedures in gynecology, urology, head and neck and general surgery.
For more information about robotic surgery at McKee, please visit www.bannerhealth.com/mckeerobotics.
ABOUT MCKEE MEDICAL CENTER
McKee Medical Center is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit facility with 132 beds. It serves as a community medical center with services including emergency, oncology, heart, orthopedics, inpatient and outpatient surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, rehabilitation, intensive care, lab and medical imaging.
ABOUT BANNER HEALTH
Based in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, not-for-profit health care systems in the country. Banner has 23 facilities that offer an array of services including hospital care, home care, hospice care, nursing registries, surgery centers, laboratories, rehabilitation services. Facilities are in seven states -- Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. In addition to emergency and medical services, Banner Health medical centers house a variety of specialized services, including heart care, cancer treatment, delivery of high-order multiple births, organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, rehabilitation services, and behavioral health services.
For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.
