The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center
Sunday, January 08, 2012
St. David’s HealthCare is home to the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, an international treatment, training and clinical research center that features the Robotic Institute University, the nation’s first educational epicenter teaching best practices for performance enhancement to hospitals and surgical teams involved in robotic-assisted surgery. Founded just eight months ago, the institute is already proving to be a leading clinical center for delivering the highest level of care at every step in the treatment of a robotic-surgery patient.
Photo: Randy Fagin, M.D.
“The use of robotic-assisted surgeries continues to grow at a rapid pace, and we are at the forefront of that growth in both practice and education,” says David Huffstutler, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. David’s HealthCare. “With the development of this institute and its educational component, we are reaching a broader base of patients and attracting physicians and surgical teams that are eager to hone their skills, improve patient care and conduct clinical research.”
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center recruited Randy Fagin, M.D., a renowned industry leader in robotic surgery, to be the institute’s Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, Fagin assists in the recruitment of other internationally known robotic-assisted surgeons in a variety of specialties, and is developing and implementing programs to elevate the consistency and quality of patient care, as well as developing educational training programs for physicians, hospital leadership and operating-room teams.
“The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center is a destination for advanced robotic-assisted surgical treatment for patients, as well as a premier resource for physicians, surgical teams and hospital leadership wishing to improve performance in the delivery of leading-edge technologies and techniques,” Fagin says. “The institute’s focus goes beyond the operating room to include research and training related to performance enhancement in the delivery of patient care through the Robotic Institute University — the first of its kind in the world.”
Prior to joining the institute, Dr. Fagin was recognized as having one of the top five volume experiences of da Vinci surgery in the world, and he continues to serve as the Senior Medical Advisor for Training at Intuitive Surgical, the global leader in the field of robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery. In addition to having performed more than 2,100 robotic-assisted surgeries, Dr. Fagin has trained surgeons from around the world. His patients have traveled from 32 states and 12 countries for his treatment, and he has lectured and performed da Vinci surgery on five continents.
“Dr. Fagin is highly respected in the field of robotic-assisted surgery, and we are proud that he is a part of the leadership for this institute,” says Allen Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center. “With his expertise and that of our other physicians, we have established a true hub for robotic surgery right here in Central Texas.”
The educational experiences offered by the Robotic Institute University began in summer 2011 with a variety of learning environments including didactic coursework, operating-room observations, backstage looks at the workings of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, and direct education and interaction with its team members.
In October, the institute hosted its first executive session, attended by more than 120 hospital leaders and physicians who traveled to the institute from 18 states and 50 cities to learn how to create growth and success in their da Vinci surgery programs. Topics of discussion ranged from “Leadership and management of a da Vinci surgery program” to “How to use social media to extend your market reach.”
Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Robotic-assisted surgery is designed to extend the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Surgeons are provided with all of the clinical and technical capabilities of traditional open surgery while operating through a few tiny incisions. Intuitive Surgical’s products combine superior 3-D, high-definition vision with the company’s patented EndoWrist Instruments, allowing for enhanced dexterity, precision and control.
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center is currently the only hospital in Central Texas with three da Vinci Surgical Systems, which are used in specialties including urology, gynecology, gynecologic oncology, urologic oncology, general surgery and bariatric surgery.
In addition to the da Vinci Surgical Systems at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, there is currently one da Vinci Surgical System at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, which is used for urology, gynecology and cardiovascular surgeries. St. David’s South Austin Medical Center was the first hospital in Austin to use the da Vinci Surgical System for thoracic procedures.
The establishment of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center further enhances St. David’s HealthCare as a leader in this growing field of medicine.
Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery: Vision
Dr. Fagin has been a pragmatic and visionary leader for the institute and is at the heart of its vision to be the world’s leading center for collaborative performance enhancement.
MD News November/December 2011, Austin