Newman Regional Health CEO Bob Wright is pleased with the early returns from the hospital’s venture into robotic surgery.
A better than $2 million da Vinci robot made its debut just over a month ago after Newman Regional Health had been considering a move into robotic surgery for several years and first started public board discussions just over a year ago. The Board of Trustees approved the lease in December.
Wright also says the da Vinci equipment has been refined since it started about 20 years ago.
Wright is also glad to have four medical fields benefiting from the new equipment, starting with general surgery.
Robotic surgeries are preferred over conventional surgeries because of decreased post-operation pain, decreased use of pain medications, decreased length of stays, better visualization and a greater range of motion after surgery.
Wright says it could take up to two years before the new equipment is fully utilized. Decisions on related technology will be made over that time. Wright says remote work by physicians could happen within the next decade.
