The Robots Are Scrubbing In!
Northside Hospital Gwinnett has a new set of hands in the operating room, although these happen to be robotic. A new da Vinci 5 system is expanding the hospital’s minimally invasive surgery capabilities.
New Technology, Closer to Home
Northside Hospital has added two new da Vinci 5 surgical systems to its network, with one installed at Northside Hospital Gwinnett and the other at its Cherokee campus. The additions bring Northside’s robotic surgery fleet to 32 systems across the health system.
At the Gwinnett campus, the newest system is initially supporting minimally invasive thoracic and lung procedures while also being available to other surgical specialties. The expansion means more physicians in the community have access to Northside’s latest robotic platform without patients having to look elsewhere in metro Atlanta for the technology.
The Northside expansion also reflects how robotic surgery has moved from an emerging technology to an increasingly established part of complex surgical care.
What the Robot Actually Does
Despite the name, the robot is not roaming the operating room making decisions on its own. Surgeons remain in control, using the system to manipulate instruments with a high degree of precision.
The da Vinci 5 adds more than 150 design innovations compared with earlier platforms. Its features include enhanced 3D visualization, greater instrument control and Force Feedback technology that allows surgeons to sense push-and-pull forces at the instrument tip.
The system also supports real-time collaboration and advanced data collection. Procedures can be securely observed remotely for mentoring and collaboration, while surgical video and performance data can be recorded and reviewed for education, training and quality improvement.
For Gwinnett, that makes the investment about more than adding another piece of sophisticated equipment. It places one of Northside’s newest surgical platforms directly inside a hospital serving a rapidly growing part of metro Atlanta, while giving local surgeons another tool for treating cancer and other complex conditions through minimally invasive approaches.
Robotic surgery may sound futuristic, but at Northside Hospital Gwinnett, the future has already scrubbed in.
For more Gwinnett hospitals, medical practices and health care resources close to home, explore the Guide to Gwinnett Health & Medical directory at https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/health-medical.
