Robotics : St. David's HealthCare

St. David's Medical Center Only Hospital in Central Texas to Acquire Robotic Fluorescence Imaging Technology With da Vinci� SiT Surgical System

reedsmith — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:48:34 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas-Recently, St. David's Medical Center became the first hospital in Central Texas to acquire fluorescence imaging technology with the da Vinci� SiT Surgical System. This technology offers the capability of providing real-time, image-guided identification of key anatomical landmarks using near-infrared technology. Fluorescence imaging allows surgeons to see and assess anatomy better than the naked eye, further enhancing the unmatched vision, precision and control of minimally invasive da Vinci surgery.

"This revolutionary fluorescence technology has the ability to illuminate healthy tissue, allowing for improved surgical precision," John Marietta, M.D., chief medical officer at St. David's Medical Center, said. "When performing a tumor removal procedure, for example, there is a fine line between the areas requiring removal and the healthy portions of an organ. This technology allows us to more precisely differentiate those areas with the flip of a switch, often sparing healthy tissues by leaving them intact."

The fluorescence imaging technology provides real-time identification of a patient's anatomy. The specially designed endoscopes and camera allow physicians to visualize tissue and surrounding blood vessels by injecting a green-colored dye called IndoCyanine Green (ICG), which is activated by near-infrared light. This technology allows surgeons to identify malignant and healthy tissue as the procedure is performed.

The fluorescence imaging technology with da Vinci robotic surgery will be used to perform minimally invasive surgery across a wide array of specialties. Currently, it is primarily used in urologic and colorectal procedures.

The da Vinci Si Surgical System is developed by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Intuitive Surgical, Inc., is the global technology leader in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. The company's da Vinci Surgical System offers surgeons superior visualization, enhanced dexterity and greater precision compared to traditional surgical approaches.

St. David's Medical Center

St. David's Medical Center is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized in January 2012 as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. Founded in 1924, St. David's Medical Center is a full-service medical center offering comprehensive medical care at three locations-St. David's Medical Center, located at 919 East 32nd Street in Austin; Heart Hospital of Austin, located at 3801 North Lamar Blvd.; and St. David's Georgetown Hospital, located in Georgetown at 2000 Scenic Drive. The three campuses offer a full range of medical specialties, as well as many other innovative health care services.

St. David's Medical Center in central Austin includes a 350-bed acute care hospital and a freestanding, 64-bed rehabilitation hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. St. David's Medical Center provides a complete range of women's services, including its acclaimed maternity unit, maternal fetal medicine, a high-risk maternal and neonatal transport team, the region's largest and most sophisticated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Breast Center, and a fertility center; is home to the internationally acclaimed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute; NeuroTexas Institute (including the TIA Center for Stroke Prevention and designation as a Primary Stroke Center); complex surgical services; a comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Center; and a 24-hour emergency department.

Thomson Reuters named St. David's Medical Center to the list of 100 Top Hospitals in 2010, 2011 and 2012. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery Creates Initiative to Improve Patient Care

korr — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:24:03 GMT

Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery Expands Across Texas to Enhance the Delivery of Care in da Vinci Robotic Surgery

AUSTIN, Texas-Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center announced today that it has partnered with three Texas hospitals to create an initiative to help improve patient care and enhance the delivery of care in da Vinci robotic surgery. As part of the initiative, Medical City in Dallas, Methodist Stone Oak Hospital in San Antonio and Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare in El Paso will be affiliates of the Austin-based Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery in the delivery of da Vinci surgical services.

These Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery affiliates will now be part of the collaborative performance enhancement initiative led by the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center. This partnership is a first-in-the-world initiative that creates a collective capability among member hospitals aimed at improving the care delivered to patients, as well as enhancing best practices of surgeons and hospital team members involved in the delivery of da Vinci surgical services.

"Using collaboration to enhance performance through the creation of a collective intelligence and collective capability has been a goal of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery from the beginning," Randy Fagin, M.D., chief administrative officer of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, said. "I know I speak for everyone at the Institute when I tell you how excited we are to see this vision become a reality."

The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center is in the process of on-boarding member hospitals and will collect and analyze data from these three affiliate hospitals, as well as the Institute, creating the world's first multi-hospital, multi-specialty and multi-system analysis of performance in the delivery of care for patients undergoing da Vinci surgical procedures.

The data analysis will be performed at the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery and will be paired with a performance enhancement implementation program at each facility. The combined resources of data acquisition, data analysis, and a performance enhancement implementation program will allow member hospitals to not only understand their strengths and weaknesses, but also implement changes for quality improvement based on their own data, the collective data of the group and the strengths of member hospitals.

As another means of drawing collective value from the member facilities, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery has also created regular forums for member hospitals to gather and participate in innovative thought sharing and process improvement development.

"What we are doing is redefining surgery, as well as improving the care we can deliver to our patients, surgeons and staff," Fagin said. "I truly believe that we are not only bringing value to the future of delivering da Vinci surgical services, but this collaborative performance enhancement network also has the potential to have a positive and lasting impact on the future of health care delivery as a whole."

The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center was launched in March 2011. It features an educational epicenter teaching best practices for hospital leadership, surgeons and surgical teams involved in the delivery of robotic-assisted da Vinci surgery. The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery is an international treatment, training and research center that combines excellence in robotic-assisted surgery and outcomes with education and training.

St. David's North Austin Medical Center
St. David's North Austin Medical Center, located at 12221 North Mopac Expressway, is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters in January 2012. The 332-bed multi-specialty, acute care facility is dedicated to the highest level of women's health services, including maternity and newborn care with Level I, II and III nurseries at the adjacent St. David's Women's Center of Texas, as well as a 24-hour emergency department, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, heart and vascular center, neurology and neurosurgery, a kidney transplant program, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, among many others. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery Physician First In Texas to Perform Single-Site da Vinci Surgery

korr — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:20:24 GMT

Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery One of First in United States to Use New Surgical Platform.

On Friday, Jan. 20, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center was the first in Texas-and one of the first in the nation-to perform Single-Site da Vinci robotic surgery to remove a gallbladder from a patient.

Francis Buzad, M.D., a sugeon with the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery and the Austin Diagnostic Clinic, performed the procedure on three patients using this revolutionary, FDA-approved platform. He was assisted by Louis Corne, M.D., and a surgical team from St. David's North Austin Medical Center. With a single incision that is less than one inch made through the belly button, Dr. Buzad removed each patient's gallbladder in less than 60 minutes.

"This new da Vinci platform has made a minimally invasive surgery even less invasive," Thomas Payne, M.D., Medical Director of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, said. "The Single-Site da Vinci robotic platform is the next step in the natural progression of surgical technologies, and we are truly excited to be a leader today in the surgical platforms of tomorrow."

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. received FDA approval on the new operating platform specifically for cholecystectomy procedures, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. The system enables surgeons to reduce the traditional number of incisions from four, down to one incision that is less than an inch in length.

"This Single-Site da Vinci robotic platform provides surgeons with amazing dexterity, control, and high-definition 3D vision, resulting in a surgical procedure with less scarring, minimal pain and a rapid recovery for patients," said Dr. Buzad. "I am honored to be one of the first in the nation to be able to offer this significant surgical advancement to my patients who require gallbladder removal."

The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery and Dr. Buzad were selected specifically by Intuitive Surgical to be among the first in the nation to use this new da Vinci platform, which will become available to the rest of the country over the next few months.

The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center was launched in March 2011. It features an educational epicenter teaching best practices for hospital leadership, surgeons and surgical teams involved in the delivery of robotic-assisted da Vinci surgery. The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery is an international treatment, training and research center that combines excellence in robotic-assisted surgery and outcomes with education and training.

St. David's North Austin Medical Center

St. David's North Austin Medical Center, located at 12221 North Mopac Expressway, is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters in January 2012. The 332-bed multi-specialty, acute care facility is dedicated to the highest level of women's health services, including maternity and newborn care with Level I, II and III nurseries at the adjacent St. David's Women's Center of Texas, as well as a 24-hour emergency department, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, heart and vascular center, neurology and neurosurgery, a kidney transplant program, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, among many others. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

St. David's HealthCare Launches Online Preregistration for Patients

korr — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:10:51 GMT

On July 15, 2011, St. David's HealthCare launched an online preregistration feature for all patients, providing greater convenience and enhancing the efficiency of the registration process. The program, originally launched in December 2010 for labor and delivery patients, was so successful that St. David's HealthCare expanded the option to include all hospital patients.

"St. David's HealthCare strives to provide an unmatched level of service to all patients," Mark Clayton, senior vice president of St. David's HealthCare, said. "With this online preregistration feature, our service begins before patients arrive at the hospital, allowing for a smooth check-in process."

Patients can now enter their registration information online. Then, when they arrive at a St. David's HealthCare hospital, all they have to do is sign and verify the information, as well as provide a copy of their driver's license and insurance card. Preregistration staff members enter the data into St. David's HealthCare's system. Patients can visit StDavids.com/register to preregister.

St. David's HealthCare
With more than 60 sites across Central Texas, St. David's HealthCare includes seven of the area's leading hospitals and is one of the largest health systems in Texas. Known for compassionate, high-quality care, the organization has been recognized with the Texas Award for Performance Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Texas based upon world-class quality measures. Ranked as one of the Top Workplaces in 2010 by the Austin American-Statesman-as well as the top Austin-area employer among large companies at the Austin Business Journal's annual "Best Places to Work" event in 2007, 2008 and 2009-St. David's HealthCare is the third-largest private employer in the Austin area, with more than 7,100 employees. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

St. David's HealthCare Takes Robotic-Assisted Surgery to the Next Level With The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery At St. David's North Austin Medical Center

jdunn — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Institute to Include First 'Robotic Institute University' for Surgical Training, Clinical Research and Treatment

Randy Fagin, Leading Robotic Surgeon, Named Chief Administrative Officer of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center

St. David's HealthCare today announced the establishment of Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, which will feature the Robotic Institute University, the nation's first educational epicenter teaching best practices for hospital and surgical teams involved in robotic-assisted surgery.

The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center is an international treatment, training and clinical research center that will combine excellence in robotic-assisted surgery and outcomes in education and training. The institute will serve as the leading clinical center for delivering the highest level of care at every step in the treatment of a robotic surgery patient.

"The use of robotic-assisted surgeries continues to grow at a rapid pace, and we are at the forefront of that growth in both practice and education," C. David Huffstutler, president and chief executive officer of St. David's HealthCare, said. "With the development of this institute and its educational component, we will reach a broader base of patients and attract physicians and surgical teams that are eager to hone their skills, improve patient care and conduct clinical research."

St. David's North Austin Medical Center recruited Randy Fagin, M.D., a renowned industry leader in robotic surgery, as the institute's chief administrative officer. In this role, Fagin will assist in the recruitment of other internationally known robotic-assisted surgeons in a variety of specialties, develop and implement programs to elevate the consistency and quality of patient care, as well as develop educational training programs for physicians and hospital teams.

"The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center is a destination for advanced robotic-assisted surgical treatment for patients, as well as for physicians, surgical teams and hospital staff who wish to be trained on leading-edge technologies and techniques," Fagin said. "The center's focus, which goes beyond the operating room to include research and training related to the consistency and quality of patient care through the Robotic Institute University, makes it the first of its kind in the world."

As one of the top five robotic surgeons in the world, Fagin has served as the senior medical advisor for Intuitive Surgical�, the global leader in the field of robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery, for the past two years. He has performed more than 2,100 robotic-assisted surgeries, as well as trained surgeons from around the world. Patients have traveled from 32 states and 12 countries to be treated by him. For the past six years, Fagin has performed surgery live for the American Urology Association's international meetings, as an expert in his field.

"Dr. Fagin is highly respected in the field of robotic-assisted surgery, and we are proud that he will be part of the leadership for this institute," Don Wilkerson, chief executive officer of St. David's North Austin Medical Center, said. "With his expertise, and that of our other physicians, we are establishing a true hub for robotic surgery right here in Central Texas."

Courses at the Robotic Institute University are scheduled to begin in summer 2011, with the intent to expand to other St. David's HealthCare facilities in the future. University instruction will incorporate a variety of learning environments including didactic coursework, operating room observations and backstage looks at the workings of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center and its key people.

St. David's North Austin Medical Center is committed to meeting any educational and training needs of the institute, Wilkerson said, including the recruitment of additional surgeons and staff, an eventual four-operating room expansion and the purchase of additional robots for surgery and training.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Robotic-assisted surgery is designed to extend the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to patients. Surgeons are provided with all of the clinical and technical capabilities of traditional open surgery, while operating through a few tiny incisions. Intuitive Surgical's products combine superior 3D high definition vision with the company's patented Endo Wrist� Instruments allowing for enhanced dexterity, precision and control.

St. David's HealthCare has long been a leader in robotic-assisted surgery. During the last quarter of 2010, St. David's North Austin Medical Center surgeons performed nearly 200 robotic surgical cases.

St. David's North Austin Medical Center is currently the only hospital in Central Texas with two da Vinci� Surgical Systems, which are used in a number of specialties including urology, gynecology, gynecologic oncology, urologic oncology, general surgery and bariatric surgery.

In 2011, otolaryngological (ENT) surgery will become available at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, including ENT surgery for benign and cancerous conditions as well as total thyroidectomy with no neck scar.

In addition to the da Vinci� Surgical Systems at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, there is currently one da Vinci� Surgical System at St. David's South Austin Medical Center, which is used for urology, gynecology, oncology and cardiovascular surgeries. St. David's South Austin Medical Center was the first hospital in Austin to use the da Vinci� Surgical System for thoracic procedures.
The establishment of The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center further enhances St. David's HealthCare as a leader in this growing field of medicine, placing it in the top 1% of programs in the world.

With robotic-assisted surgery, patients often have improved outcomes, such as:
. Less blood loss and need for transfusions
. Shortened hospital stays
. Less pain
. Low risk of infection and complications
. Faster recovery time and return to normal activities
. Small incisions for less scarring

For more information, please visit TexasRobotic.com.