Mercy to offer robotic surgery
JANESVILLE — On the day that gloom about General Motors descended on Janesville, the city’s biggest employer rolled out its version of the future: a robot.
Patients, Mercy employees and others took turns Friday moving the robotic arms that will soon be performing surgery on prostates, uteruses and other organs.
Mercy Hospital is one of only five hospitals in the country with this machine, said to be the leader in the growing field of robot-assisted surgery.
Officially, it’s called the da Vinci Si HD dual-console robotic surgery system.
GM was on the mind of Dr. Nick Gianitsos, who noted Mercy Health System is now the city’s leading employer, and one that’s not leaving town.
Mercy didn’t simply buy a fancy new gadget, Gianitsos continued. “We’re in the process of trying to make Janesville a destination for robotic surgery.”
That means more visitors from southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois and possibly beyond, Gianitsos added.
That also means eventually hiring more surgeons, Gianitsos said.
Wisconsin is home to 23 other surgery robots, Gianitsos said, but this is the most advanced and only one of its kind in the Midwest.
Mercy plans to use the system initially for urology, general surgery and obstetrics/gynecology. They’ll expand to heart surgery within a year, Gianitsos said.
Mercy’s agreement with the robot’s maker forbids revealing the price, but Gianitsos said the investment is more than $2 million.
Will that cost drive up costs? Gianitsos said the machine actually holds costs down.
Because recovery time is so much faster, “we save almost two-and-a-half days of hospitalization (for a prostatectomy), which is a lot of money,” Gianitsos said.
Other advantages include less blood loss, fewer complications, less pain, less risk of infection, smaller incisions and faster recovery.
Gianitsos and fellow urologist Francis Kaveggia will perform Mercy’s first operation Monday.
They’ll use a machine with optics that allow them to see better than with the naked eye and use robotic arms that allow them to maneuver more easily in a small space than they could with their hands.
ON THE WEB
Mercy Hospital’s first robotic surgery will be on Monday. Anyone with a computer or cell phone with Twitter will be able to receive instant updates. While doctors operate on a 64-year old man, Mercy staff will send updates, including photos and video. The surgery is set for 9-11 a.m. To see the updates, visit Mercy’s Twitter page at http://twitter.com/mercyhealth. Non-Twitter users should go to http://search.twitter.com and search the keyword: #mercydavinci.
Jul 7, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.
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And at what cost to the most needy people in the community? Maybe Mercy in Motion, inpatient hospice and Mercy Manor could have been kept a little longer if Mr. Bea wasn't so worried about the almighty dollar. To all those who are pro-Mercy: you must not have a loved one who is desperate need of those cut services. I hope you never do need them, but then again, maybe the "super robot" can give the elderly rides to appointments and provide end-of-life care.
Jun 29, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.
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Bravo Mercy Employee. Why can't everyone try to see the good side of a story rather than dig for the negative? Less bleeding, shorter hospital stay ... sounds good to me!
Jun 29, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.
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Nicely said, KAMAKI & Kramer.
I'm a Mercy employee, and I sometimes get discouraged when I read these articles on via the internet and see the feedback.
Although I may not agree with everything done by my employer, I do see the bigger picture and realize Mercy is making moves to stay a viable health care institution, and business.
When Mercy invests in new medical technology or expands a building, it is to offer better care for our current and future patients. It helps to keep our roots in this community and to guarantee jobs for the future, too!
Among complaints, I often see mentions of Madison offering better or more up-to-date services compared to Mercy. Yet when Mercy attempts to bring that technology or those services closer to home, the complaints turn to what services Mercy has had to close. Nobody notices that the Madison hospitals they are glorifying don't offer those closed services either.
I'm curious as to where those complainers are, or where they have been, when Mercy looks, or has looked, to raise money for the homeless shelter or other services in which they may not be reimbursed. Have they given?
Yes, this community to has many people who need additional assistance, and by growing and expanding our services and technology, we continue to find ways to generate revenue so we can turn around and offer additional help to those who need it.
I'm proud to work at Mercy and to serve Janesville, and although I know we can't please everyone all the time, I do hope our community members will support us and our efforts to best serve them. We have a lot of compassionate, wonderful people working here, and most of us, want to offer you the best experience possible when you need our help.
Jun 29, 2009 at 9:56 a.m.
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Its amazing how people can spin everything towards the negative.
"Mr. Bea, where are your priorities?" Answer: Patient Care
Hospitals cut and add services all the time based on a whole host of factors. Bottom line, this technology improves patient care and will ultimately bring jobs to Janesville, not replace existing ones.
No matter what the article or subject. People complain....get a life.
Jun 28, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
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It appears to me that Mr. Bea and Mercy are the only ones these days still willing to make a substantial investment in Janesville. OPEN YOUR EYES JANESVILLIANS! Mercy Health System is hoping to grow its business which is rooted in our community! GM IS DEAD AND GONE. Lets start supporting those businesses who still invest in Janesville!
Jun 28, 2009 at 12:41 p.m.
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Pack - did you not read the article? This robot does not function independently, it must be controlled by a physician. Therefore, it does not make healthcare workers obsolete. Sounds to me that purchasing this new equipment IS really about improved patient care. Way to go Mercy!
Jun 28, 2009 at 12:25 p.m.
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Gee, I remember when GM put in their first robot. *don't have to pay them, they don't take breaks*. Worked so well for the car industry, might work as well with the health care industry. <sigh> Maybe we just don't need people anymore.....
Jun 28, 2009 at 9:33 a.m.
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Mr. Bea's priorities: bonus. Bea is not about compassionate care for the community, his focus is about making a buck. So line'em up, and run'em under robo knife. How else is he going to get his executive bonuses?
Jun 27, 2009 at 11:18 p.m.
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I keep having flashbacks to that 1960s' TV series, "Lost in Space": "Danger, Will Robinson ... Danger, danger!"
Jun 27, 2009 at 4:49 p.m.
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Is this where the funds for Mercy's inpatient hospice care, Mercy In Motion transportation and Mercy Manor nursing home went? Mercy eliminated these 3 badly needed community services. And now they are promoting a multi-million dollar robotic surgery system. Mr. Bea, where are your priorities?
Jun 27, 2009 at 4:41 p.m.
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Just what I wanted to get video of ... prostate surgery!
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