Sovah Health - Martinsville Launches New Surgical Robot

Sovah Health – Martinsville announced an addition to its surgical services offerings earlier this year with the purchase of a new surgical robot.  The robot, located tableside in the operating room, allows a surgeon's hand movements to be scaled, filtered, and translated into precise movements of micro-instruments at the surgical site.

“We're committed to providing innovative and safe alternatives to traditional open surgery, whenever possible,” said Steve Heatherly, Market President, Sovah Health. “Whether we're using robotic-assisted technology or minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, we want you to explore and understand all of your options knowing that we are prepared to care for you every step of the way.” 

The magnified, high-resolution, three-dimensional view the surgeon experiences enables him/her to perform precise and complex surgery through very small surgical incisions. The surgeon is 100% in control of the robotic system. The 3D-HD image can be magnified up to ten times so the surgeon has a close-up view of the area he or she is operating on, and the robotic instruments have mechanical wrists that bend and rotate to mimic the movements of the human wrist -- allowing your surgeon to make small, precise movements inside your body.

Dr. Kareem Hamdy, Dr. Scott O’Neil, and Dr. David Graham, all general surgeons who are trained in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery, have started cases this month. Not everyone is a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery, and patients should consult with their doctor about the best surgical method for them individually.

To become skilled in robotic-assisted surgery, a surgeon must complete specific training protocols including online didactics training; in-person classes; assisting in bedside cases, where they can gain additional hand-on skill with the robot and its instrumentation; and proficiency in “console” cases, meaning that the surgeon is fully completing an operation using the robot.

To learn more about Robotic-Assisted Surgery at Sovah Health, click here.