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St. David's South Austin Medical Center Opens i-Suite® OR, a Fully Integrated, High-Definition Operating Room Suite

Friday, March 11, 2011

Advanced, Voice-Activated Operating Suite Marks Completion of

Phase Two of $72-Million Renovation and Expansion Project

AUSTIN, Texas—On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center opened a new, state-of-the-art operating suite that provides surgeons with the world’s most advanced operating room technology.

The new Stryker i-Suite® Operating Room (OR), described as the “operating room of the future,” is designed for use during minimally invasive surgery—a type of surgery requiring only small incisions and the use of a scope to see the interior of the body, such as procedures using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System. Fully integrated and computerized, the new operating room provides surgeons with advanced technology for enhancing the quality and efficiency of surgical procedures, including voice-activated equipment and high-definition digital imaging.

“This sophisticated operating suite reaffirms our commitment to providing patients with minimally invasive surgery options, which may reduce the amount of time a patient is under anesthesia and can result in shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and less down time for patients,” Todd Steward, chief executive officer of St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, said. “The new operating suite is larger, and it includes high-tech precision monitors and other specialty equipment, providing greater accuracy for surgeons.”

Operating room integration in the i-Suite OR is made possible through the SIDNE® and SwitchPoint Infinity®3 systems. SIDNE is a central control system that connects with all critical devices in the operating room and allows the surgeon to control those devices through simple verbal commands.

All surgical equipment is mounted on the ceilings in order to provide more floor space and remove trailing wires. Voice activated headsets give physicians direct control over surgical devices and improved field of view.

This state-of-the-art operating suite marks the completion of phase two of the facility’s $72-million renovation and expansion project, which began in April 2010. Upon completion in April 2012, the expansion project will increase the hospital by three floors, more than 100,000 square feet and 44 beds. It will also include additional clinical improvements, hospitality upgrades and community resource renovations.

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center currently uses the da Vinci system to perform urology, gynecology, oncology and cardiovascular procedures.

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, located at 901 West Ben White Boulevard, is part of St. David’s HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas. St. David's South Austin Medical Center is an acute care facility with 252 beds, offering a range of complex specialties and sub-specialties, including a comprehensive and nationally recognized cardiac program, full-service maternity and newborn care with Level I and II nurseries, and a thriving 24-hour emergency department, among others. In 2010, the medical center launched a comprehensive $72-million renovation and expansion effort, to be completed in 2012. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.