MDNews - Mid Hudson

Health Quest Brings Next-level Robotic Surgery to the Mid-Hudson Valley By Tiffany Parnell HEALTH QUEST IS TRANSFORMING THE SURGICAL LANDSCAPE OF THE MID-HUDSON REGION WITH MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN A PAIR OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE, ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGERY — THE DA VINCI SI AND XI SURGICAL SYSTEMS. W HILE SOME IN the medi- cal field have been slow to recognize the value of robotic surgery, physi- cians at Health Quest have embraced it. At Vassar Brothers Medical Center, one of Health Quest's three hospitals in the mid-Hudson Valley and an early adopter of the technology, surgeons who specialize in minimally invasive procedures utilize both the da Vinci Si and Xi surgical systems to ensure pinpoint accuracy and boost surgical-instrument maneuverability dur- ing complex operations. The da Vinci Si Surgical System is also in place at Putnam Hospital Center, and Northern Dutchess Hospital is in the process of acquiring one. Why Invest in Robotic Surgery? When Kurt Semm, MD, a German OB/GYN, first developed the techniques that led to the development of modern laparoscopic surgery, his colleagues widely rejected his ideas. Despite many surgeons' initial misgivings about laparo- scopic surgery, however, the method has become the standard of care for multiple procedures, including cholecystectomy and appendectomy. Today, in a healthcare environment focused on cost savings, robotic surgery has encountered similar scrutiny, largely because of the equipment's high cost and the steep learning curve associated with using the surgical robot. Health Quest's John Choi, MD, MS, FACS, minimally John Choi, MD, MS, FACS, is a fellowship-trained surgeon who uses minimally invasive techniques at Vassar Brothers Medical Center to perform general surgery and provide care for colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and complex hernias. He is ready to help patients navigate through their surgical journeys. COV ER FE AT UR E 6 | Mid Hudson MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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