HONOLULU – The Queen’s Medical Center was recently designated a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). The distinction recognizes Queen’s as the only hospital in Hawaii to become a Center of Excellence in robotic surgery.
In addition, several physicians were recognized as Surgeons of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. They include:
- Dr. Steven Nishida
- Dr. Paul Morris
- Dr. Ayman Abdul-Ghani
- Dr. Timur Roytman
Currently, Queen’s has five da Vinci surgical robots used to perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures such as thoracic, gynecology, urology, gastric bypass, and colorectal to treat conditions such as lung cancer, gynecologic cancer, bladder cancer, and colorectal cancer. In addition, 30 physicians are trained in robotic surgery.
In 2007, Queen’s was the first in Hawaii to offer robotic-assisted surgery, and in 2019, Queen’s achieved a milestone of performing its 10,000th procedure.
“This designation demonstrates the commitment of Queen’s of continuing to pursue and implement advancements in robotic surgery,” said Beryl Muniz, The Queen’s Health Systems’s Vice President of Surgical Services, Emergency Department, and Trauma Services. “Our dedicated interdisciplinary teams have developed a culture of excellence aimed at ensuring our patients are at the forefront of patient care and safety.”
Robotic surgeries allow physicians the ability to operate in small spaces inside the body. The benefits of robotic compared to laparoscopic (traditional) surgery include greater range of motion and precision, which may lead to less bleeding and pain after surgery.
“Thanks to the dedication of our nurses, technicians, and physicians, we have a robust surgical robotics program which has been continually growing since 2007,” said Dr. Steven Nishida, The Queen’s Medical Center Robotics Program Director. “Our goal is to continually elevate our standards to provide safe and effective care for the people of Hawaii.”
The SRC is an independent, non-profit patient safety organization established in 2003 that develops and administers best-in-class accreditation programs for medical professionals, surgeons, hospitals, and freestanding outpatient facilities throughout the world.
Health care organizations seeking accreditation by SRC undergo an extensive self-assessment and inspection process which includes evaluating outcomes of prior robotic-assisted surgeries. The inspection is consultative and educational, with the goal of achieving best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.
