From Franciscan Health System
St. Francis Hospital, part of the Franciscan Health System, has introduced the EndoWrist™ Stapler as the newest device available on the da Vinci ® surgical system. James Yamashita, MD, FACS is one of two surgeons in the Northwest to introduce this device in colorectal surgery. Dr. Yamashita was chosen as an early EndoWrist™ user because of his excellence in da Vinci® colorectal procedures and Franciscan was chosen for their premier robotics program.
The EndoWrist™ Stapler is a robotic device, modeled after the human hand. The instrument’s internal cables provide maximum responsiveness, allowing precise suturing, dissection and tissue manipulation. The EndoWrist™ Stapler employs Smart Clamp technology which provides less risk to the patient because it seals the tissue correctly. Dr. Yamashita recently used the new tool during a sigmoid colon procedure.
“We are pleased to be able to add this new device to the robotic surgeon’s tool kit,” said Kathy Bressler, president, St. Clare Hospital with executive oversight for surgical services at Franciscan. “We are committed to providing our patients with the greatest level of surgical care by using the most advanced technology available today. Robotic-assisted surgery provides less pain and quicker recovery than traditional open surgery to our patients.”
There are nine da Vinci® surgical robots in the Franciscan Health System with the ultimate goal of including the EndoWrist™ Stapler device on all systems.
Franciscan Health System includes St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma; St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way; St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw; St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor; Highline Medical Center, Burien; Harrison Medical Center and Harrison HealthPartners, Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas; Franciscan Hospice House, University Place; Franciscan Medical Group clinics and providers, Pierce, King and Kitsap counties; and the Franciscan Foundation. Franciscan is part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a nonprofit, faith-based health system formed in 1996 through the consolidation of four Catholic health systems. One of the nation’s largest health systems, Englewood, Colo. –based CHI operates in 18 states and comprises 87 hospitals; 24 critical access facilities and other facilities that span the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care. In fiscal year 2013, CHI provided more than $762 million in charity care and community benefit, including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. Learn more at www.fhshealth.org.