Health

HEALTH • Fall 2016 23 Fitchburg & Leominster Our Locations Urgent Care Fitchburg HealthAlliance Hospital - Burbank Campus 275 Nichols Road Fitchburg, MA 01420 ● 978-343-5072 Monday - Sunday: 9am to 6:30pm Urgent Care Leominster 510 North Main Street Leominster, MA 01453 ● 978-466-8820 Monday - Friday: 8am to 8pm Saturday & Sunday: 9am to 5pm UMass Memorial - HealthAlliance Hospital Urgent Care Centers provide convenient walk-in services for individuals of all ages. Our dedicated clinical teams provide exceptional care for everyone. • No appointments needed • Open weekends & extended hours • Lower cost compared to emergency room visits • Onsite Lab & Radiology (X-Ray) services • Most insurance plans accepted • Free Parking We treat non-life threatening illnesses and injuries such as: • Minor burns or injuries • Coughs, colds, and sore throats • Ear infections • Allergic reactions (non life-threatening) • Dehydration (Fitchburg location only) • Fever or flu-like symptoms Visit www.healthalliance.com or urgentcareleominster.com for more information. • Rash or other skin irritations • Sprains and strains • Broken bones • Mild asthma • Animal bites How robots are automating the future of health care R ecently UMass Memorial Medical Center has been in the news for its investment in robot- ics technology. These particular invest- ments make us one of only a few hospi- tals nationwide to own and operate the OEC Elite MiniView C-arm, a portable X-ray machine for arms and legs, and the robotized surgical assistant, a sys- tem with a computer brain and a robot- ic arm-like structure that work togeth- er to make surgery go faster. These new developments are fur- ther validation of the increasing role of automation in the field of medicine, a trend that will become more wide- spread in more facets of health care delivery in the future. There has already been an exponential leap in the amount of telemedicine and tele- health systems to provide care for patients. Robotics and automation are just another tool for providing care. This is especially true within surgi- cal specialties, where the capabilities of robotics assistance allow us to oper- ate on a more stable platform with more precise movements and han- dling of the tissue during a procedure. With an already strained health care workforce, robotics in the operating room means we rely a little less on more trained and oftentimes more costly personnel who are now free to work in other areas of the hospital. Training There is a learning curve to deploy- ing and successfully using robotics just as there is for other facets of surgery. I think there needs to be a graduated level of training and experience rang- ing from open, standard surgical pro- cedures, moving on to standard laparo- scopic procedures and then advancing to a level where the surgeon can take full advantage of what robotics offers. Nowadays residents going through training are getting more exposure to open surgery and laparoscopy while getting some exposure to the basics of robotic surgery. Some are taking advanced training courses which are normally one to two day training ses- sions with a cadaver or animal lab where they learn to use these tools to the best of their ability. Afterward the resident will have a series of proctored cases where they are observed. For experienced surgeons who want to develop their skills in robotic surgery, these training programs are ideal. Robotics no substitute for MDs Robotics is a sophisticated tool that allows us to provide better care while potentially using fewer resources. Being able to get those tools into the hands of the experts who can provide the best outcomes for patients is vital- ly important. Robotics is not a substi- tute or replacement for surgeons, and humans are still in control. Robotics is also not currently avail- able in every surgical department. Abilities and advantages that some robotics offers are still somewhat spe- cific to certain specialties. What we are seeing is that the general, colorec- tal and thoracic surgery divisions tend to use the technology more than other surgical areas. Hospitals will have to prioritize and determine whether procedures would benefit certain patients more than others. Many experts believe obese patients benefit more from the robot- ics because of its ability to operate inside the abdomen easier. Here at UMass Memorial, as is the case with many other hospitals, there is only one robot, so at times, there is a little bit of a backlog in terms of availability. Future focused The pace of automation and robotics technology outruns the ability to get it into the hands of the clinicians. In a health care environment, not only are the costs scrutinized -- the cost benefits are scrutinized even more. We are con- stantly evaluating these things and see- ing what actually provides benefits to the patients and the advantages for doctors beyond being able to get their procedures done more efficiently. Paul Sturrock, MD, is a colon and rectal surgeon at UMass Memorial Medical Center and assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. HEALTHCARE INNOVATION By Dr. Paul Sturrock

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