The new fifth operating room will allow the hospital to provide more minimally invasive, robotic surgeries to a greater number of Georgetown residents, St. David’s CEO Kyle Landry said in an interview with Community Impact. The hospital has expanded its surgical capacity to meet a growing demand for care in Georgetown, he said.
“We want to make sure we continue to provide that care close to home,” Landry said. “Our ability to open up a fifth [operating room] allows for quicker and easier access to surgical services in our community.”
The details
As the hospital’s largest operating room, the 650-square-foot surgical suite allows surgeons to access a range of robotic surgical platforms in an efficient operating space, Landry said.
The $4.6 million operating room includes the Mako orthopedic robot used for knee and total hip replacements as well as DaVinci robots that assist general surgeries, urology procedures related to kidneys and prostates, and OBGYN procedures, such as hysterectomies.
The fifth operating room will focus on general surgeries, such as hernia repairs, gallbladder and appendicitis procedures, and breast cancer services, Landry said. Last year, St. David’s Georgetown began offering 3D mammograms with more detailed imaging that can lead to the early detection of breast cancer.
How it works
The robotic technology assists surgeons with planning before procedures to deliver more precise cuts during knee and total hip replacement surgeries. The DaVinci robot allows surgeons to have greater visualization during surgery and complete less invasive procedures, resulting in a faster recovery time for patients, Landry said.
While some surgeries would have previously required patients to stay at the hospital for one or two nights, robotic procedures have enabled some patients to return home the same day they undergo surgery, he said.
“Before, someone might have to have a larger incision,” Landry said. “With the robots, they're able to have a minimally invasive approach, which allows for quicker healing [and] less infections.”
The impact
Before opening a fifth operating room, St. David’s Georgetown was at surgical capacity, which resulted in some patients having difficulties scheduling surgeries, Landry said. The hospital has seen more patients needing surgeries as the Georgetown community grows, he said.
Through the fifth surgical suite, new physicians can book operating time at the hospital to help treat additional patients. Patients who are admitted to the hospital may undergo surgery more quickly and not have to travel outside of Georgetown to receive care, Landry said.
“If a surgeon wants to schedule something, they're able to get in much sooner, which allows patients to be able to have surgery faster than before,” Landry said. “Patients that are inside the hospital can get surgery more timely with more capacity.”
Going forward
Although the hospital did not have any announcements to share as of press time, Landry said St. David’s Georgetown is continuing to look for new ways to expand.
“We're looking at the next big expansion for the hospital so that we can continue to grow with the community,” Landry told Community Impact.
