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Memorial celebrates expansion of surgical services

by jmaloni
Mon, Nov 12th 2012 02:25 pm

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, on Monday, dedicated a new surgical suite built to accommodate the rising volume of surgeries being performed there.

This service expansion is a major component of the hospital's overall health care transformation plan that began in 2010.

The new suite, which will house the medical center's robotic surgery program, is part of an overall $3 million project that includes an expanded patient recovery area, updated and redecorated family waiting area, and significant technology upgrades, including robotic surgery.

"We have seen a substantial increase in both the number of surgeons on our medical staff and the number of surgeries they perform here," said Venkat Kolli, M.D., F.A.C.S., the medical center's chief of surgery. "Having a new operating room dedicated to robotic surgery will give us the scheduling flexibility we need to accommodate that growth, including the addition of single-incision robotic gallbladder surgery. We are one of only two hospitals in all eight counties of Western New York performing this procedure, which is virtually scarless."

"This expansion also significantly improves access for our 12 surgeons who are highly trained in providing robotic surgery, which will mean shorter wait times for patients scheduling elective robotic gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, bariatric, colorectal and general surgery procedures to treat cancer and other conditions," added Donna Feldman, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., who chairs Memorial's division of robotic surgery.

"This renovation and expansion of our surgical capacity along with adding the latest in surgical technology will enhance the extraordinary competency of our surgeons, our anesthesiologists and our operating room team in delivering very high quality patient outcomes and patient satisfaction," Memorial President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo said.

In addition to the new robotic operating suite, the renovation project includes installation of new communication lines and diagnostic data stations that will also support an electronic patient medical record system.

"This expansion will allow us to perform more surgical procedures, operate more efficiently and enhance our patients' comfort and convenience," said Surgery Department Director Shelly Meigs, R.N. "The fact that all this construction was accomplished in a way that allowed us to maintain our daily surgical schedule is nothing short of incredible and we are very pleased with the results."

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