Meet surgical robots at Cox South

CoxHealth’s robotics team is growing: Three of the most up-to-date Da Vinci robots have arrived at Cox South, allowing teams to increase capacity and technique in areas including gynecology, urology, hernia repair and colorectal, bariatric and general surgery.

The community – specifically, local junior high and high school students – are invited to “meet” the robots on Monday, Nov. 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. in Cox South’s West Pavilion. Physicians will be on hand to demonstrate these robots and explain more about what benefit they bring to patients, and allow students to test out the robots.

“We know there are many students throughout the area with an interest in robotics, so we wanted to take this opportunity to show them how that technology can integrate with medicine,” says Dr. Thomas Shultz, medical director of Robotics at CoxHealth. “It’s amazing how robotics programs has revolutionized certain procedures and areas of health care over the years, which is only continuing to grow. Perhaps seeing these robots in action will inspire students to pursue a career in the health care field.”

Robots have been used at CoxHealth since 2008, when the health system became the first in southwest Missouri to perform robotic surgery. In robotic surgeries, the surgeon's fingers grasp the master controls below the display, with hands and wrists naturally positioned relative to his or her eyes.

The system seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of the robotic arms and of the surgical instruments inside the patient. The less-invasive surgical approach generally allows for an easier recovery than traditional procedures, and a reduced use of pain medication.