Surgeons at Charleston Area Medical Center’s Plateau Medical Center used the first da Vinci 5 surgical system in the state to assist with procedures July 31 and Aug. 1.
Dr. Yancy Short and Dr. Scott Killmer performed the first surgeries in West Virginia using this newest surgical robot.
The same robotic surgical system will soon be in use at Mon Health Medical Center and CAMC Memorial Hospital.
Da Vinci 5 is Intuitive’s most advanced and integrated platform used for minimally invasive surgical procedures for urology, gynecology, thoracic and general surgeries.
Key enhancements include reduction of force on tissue, optimization of vision, better ergonomics and enhanced computing power to deliver actionable insights.
As with all da Vinci surgical systems, the surgeon is 100% in control of the robotic-assisted da Vinci system, which translates their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body.
“This new technology is very exciting for our community and our providers. This is another example of how CAMC is investing in Plateau Medical Center to improve the quality of care for our patients,” said Justus Smith, vice president and chief nursing officer of CAMC Plateau Medical Center.
The Surgical Review Corp. reaccredited CAMC as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery in 2023.
CAMC launched the first multispecialty robotic surgery program in West Virginia in 2007 and now has eight robots assisting surgeons: four robots at CAMC Memorial Hospital, two at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, one at CAMC General Hospital and one at CAMC Plateau Medical Center.
Since the robotics program began, surgical specialists practicing at CAMC have used robots for more than 8,500 procedures and are currently performing more than 700 procedures each year.
Mon Health System is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient centers and hospitals in north-central West Virginia. It includes five hospitals — its flagship, Mon Health Medical Center in Morgantown; Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood; Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston; Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital in White Hall; and affiliate, Grafton City Hospital in Grafton.
