MDNews - Austin

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Contents JULY/AUG 2012 ON THE COVER The Austin Diagnostic Clinic: Robotic Procedure Makes Gallbladder Removal Easier, Less Invasive PAGE 6 Louis M. Corne Jr., M.D., FACS, and Francis Buzad, M.D., FACS FEATURES THE AUSTIN DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC: ROBOTIC PROCEDURE MAKES GALLBLADDER REMOVAL EASIER, LESS INVASIVE 6 In December 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Intuitive Surgical, Inc.'s Single-Site robotic instrumentation for cholecystectomy. Surgeons at The Austin Diagnostic Clinic were among the first in the nation trained on this instrumentation, were the first in Texas to remove a gallbladder from a patient using this da Vinci Surgical System technology, and are currently the only surgeons in the Austin area offering the procedure. THE ROUTE TO REFORM Medical liability has garnered much attention in recent years as associated costs skyrocket. In this feature article, Christian Shalgian, Director of the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy at the American College of Surgeons, offers his perspective on the climate for reform. DEPARTMENTS ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE ACCOUNTING LEGAL INNOVATION LOCAL HEALTH UPDATE OFFICE DESIGN SPOTLIGHT AROUND TOWN 5 12 14 15 16 17 18 10 15 17

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