When it comes to meeting the needs of patients, Ephraim McDowell Health continues to bring cutting-edge technology to the community.  That technology now includes a second da Vinci Surgical System, and it will be used in many of the surgeries performed at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. 

Use of the da Vinci robot is very beneficial for patients, as it means less blood loss, less need for pain medication and a shorter hospital stay.  The surgical system also benefits surgeons by providing enhanced vision of the surgical area as well as affording enhanced precision and control of the system’s instruments.

“The addition of a second da Vinci Surgical System will greatly enhance the surgical care here at Ephraim McDowell,” said Swope Munday, M.D., a board-certified general surgeon.  “It makes us competitive with other hospitals in the state, and it helps us work with more precision in the O.R.”

The da Vinci Surgical System was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000.  Since then, it has been used in more than seven million surgical procedures worldwide. With the help of the Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation, Ephraim McDowell invested in the first da Vinci robot in 2017 and has performed over 2000 surgeries using the system.  In 2019, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Centerachieved accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation. The accreditation distinguishes Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Centerfrom many other surgical facilities by providing the highest quality of care to patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.

“The surgeons are extremely pleased with the addition of a second da Vinci surgical system,” said Donna Longmire, director of Surgical Services at the Regional Medical Center and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital.  “The greatest benefit for our patients is a shorter hospital stay when the robot is used.  Some colon surgeries can require up to a two week hospitalization. In many cases, use of the da Vinci Robot System has reduced patient hospital stays to three days.”

Longmire said the da Vinci Surgical System will be used for general surgeries such as hernia repair, gallbladder removal, colon surgeries, and urologic surgeries including prostate and kidney removal. 

“The Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation was instrumental in obtaining the second robot for our health care system, along with the Board of Directors who approved on May 4, 2022, to pay $204,000 towards the robot. The Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation continues to support the health of our communities and is investing millions of dollars back into the community to support the health of those we serve,” said Jessica R. Johnson, Director of Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation.

To learn more about the ways you can give and make life-changing impact for someone else, please visit www.emhealth.org/foundation/ or give us a call at (859) 239-2362.