Suffolk Reporter

Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, New York, has achieved an important milestone by completing 10,000 robotic surgeries using the da Vinci surgical system. This accomplishment highlights the hospital's dedication to providing advanced, minimally invasive surgical care.

According to Mather Hospital, it ranks in the top 10% of hospitals on Long Island for robotic surgeries, utilizing five da Vinci surgical robots. The hospital has been performing robotic surgeries since 2011 and holds the title as the first Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence in New York State. It is also recognized as an Epicenter in Robotic Bariatric Surgery.

The hospital reported that the most frequent procedures performed robotically are bariatric and general surgeries, followed by gynecology, thoracic, and urology. Mather Hospital performs approximately 99% of its bariatric surgeries robotically, with patients typically staying two days.

Mather Hospital President Kevin McGeachy stated, "Achieving 10,000 robotic surgeries is a testament to our surgical team’s commitment to continually elevating patient care." He added that this benchmark reflects the hospital's ongoing investment in innovative technology and its dedication to favorable patient outcomes.

Robotic surgery offers patients smaller incisions, less pain and scarring, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times. The da Vinci surgical system enhances surgical precision, dexterity, and visualization.

Surgeons using the da Vinci system operate from a console with a high-definition, 3D view inside the patient's body. The system translates hand movements into precise surgical actions in real time.

Director of the Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence at Mather Hospital, Arif Ahmad, MD, expressed pride in the program's impact on over 10,000 lives, saying, "This milestone motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of surgical innovation." He mentioned that the facility has hosted surgeons from England, France, and various U.S. centers via live presentations and Telepresence, which allows real-time mentoring through audio and video sharing during surgeries.

Mather Hospital is an accredited 248-bed non-profit community teaching hospital, offering diverse health services with an emphasis on compassionate patient care. It has earned multiple recognitions for high performance and patient safety.

Northwell Health, which includes Mather Hospital, is New York's largest healthcare provider with numerous facilities and a significant number of employees dedicated to improving healthcare.