On Monday, Kaiser Permanente’s Largo Medical Center became the first civilian/non-military freestanding ambulatory surgery center in the region to perform surgery using the Intuitive da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system. The robotic surgery system allows physicians with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, which provides care to members of Kaiser Permanente, to perform minimally invasive procedures in its Largo Ambulatory Surgery Center. Kaiser Permanente’s Largo Medical Center is the first civilian ASC in the region to use the robotic surgical system.
Rahul Tevar, MD, medical director of ambulatory surgery centers at Kaiser Permanente, performed the very first robotic surgery at Largo ASC. Tevar used the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system to perform a complex hernia repair.
Using the da Vinci Xi, surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery with an advanced set of instruments and a 3D high-definition view of the surgical area. Instead of being admitted to a hospital, patients who meet guidelines will be able to have a minimally invasive procedure in Kaiser Permanente’s ambulatory surgery center and head home the same or next day. Added benefits of robotic surgery at an outpatient surgery center include less bleeding, less scarring, decreased post-operative pain and a shorter recovery time due to the less invasive procedure.
The da Vinci Xi system can be used for general surgery as well as for urologic and gynecologic procedures that are traditionally done in a hospital. The robotic system can also be used for surgeries that treat complicated hernias, uterine prolapse, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer and more. This robotic tool allows laparoscopic surgery to be done with very fine dissection, broadening the scope of minimally invasive surgery to include procedures that otherwise would need to be done with an open incision.
Kaiser Permanente performs hundreds of minimally invasive and robotic surgeries each year at local hospitals and will continue to expand its list of robotic procedures available in the Largo ASC.
“We are excited to bring the latest surgical robotic technology to our members,” said Richard McCarthy, MD, medical director for Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic. “Our patients are the true winners here. With less scarring, less bleeding and faster recovery following surgery, our patients will be back on their feet sooner, doing the things they enjoy and feeling their best.”
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/
