Onvida Health recognized by Institute Surgical as official Epicenter Case Observation Site
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Onvida Health has made significant advancements in robotic surgery and is now receiving recognition from a major biotechnology company for its efforts. The hospital has been designated by Intuitive as an official Epicenter Case Observation Site, a distinction that highlights both the scale of its program and the expertise of its medical team.
This recognition reflects over six years of development within the hospital’s robotic surgery program.
“What it does is recognizes the fact that we are a high-volume center with multiple robots, and more specifically, and importantly, that we have highly-trained competent surgeons and staff that are able to show others best practices and ways that they should be building their programs,” said Jake Childs, President of Hospital Operations.
As part of this designation, surgeons and healthcare professionals from across the United States will travel to Yuma to observe and learn from Onvida’s approach. The training will provide a look at the entire surgical process, from beginning to end.
“How we, for example, get patients in and out of the room; how the team prepares patients to go in and out, and then, of course during surgery, how the operations are performed,” explained Dr. Simon Lavotshkin.
The hospital currently operates seven robotic systems that are utilized by surgeons. Through this infrastructure, Onvida is able to train visiting surgeons on each phase of robotic-assisted procedures, offering a detailed understanding of workflow and technique.
“Building up a program is tied to all of those things that everyone wants when they have a surgery - lower risk of infection, lower risk of blood loss, lower risk of hospitalization, increased recovery time.”
Robotic surgery at Onvida Health has contributed to improved patient outcomes, including reduced risks of infection, minimized blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times. These benefits are central to the hospital’s continued investment in the technology and its commitment to advancing patient care.
“Expansion for us doesn’t necessarily mean buying that eighth or ninth robot. It goes back to a lot of what I said, is where are we using them, how are we using them, what procedures are allowed to be done on them.”
During Onvida Health's time utilizing robotic technology, it has performed over 8,500 robotic-assisted surgeries. With its new designation, the hospital is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping how robotic surgery programs are developed and implemented nationwide.
