Help is on the way—revolutionary improvements in robotic surgery are closer than you think

Navigating unchartered waters during a pandemic that stopped or limited elective surgery magnified the importance of financial management for hospitals and health systems throughout the country.  The outcome of this disruption led hospital executives to focus on patient care, outcomes, and a more intense review of the cost to treat their patients. Hospital leaders are looking for high-value approaches to simultaneously improve patient outcomes and experience while maximizing hospital and surgeon value.

Fortunately, help is on the way — revolutionary improvements in robotic surgery are closer than you may realize. In the case of Vicarious Surgical, we are proud to have made improvements so revolutionary that they’ve qualified for FDA Breakthrough Device designation and will help hospitals large and small improve patient outcomes and enhance hospital efficiencies. With tens of millions of abdominal surgery procedures per year worldwide, these technological developments are arriving just in time. New technology has the potential to provide better patient experiences, take up less physical space, and facilitate improved hospital operations.

It’s no secret that smaller and critical access hospitals, in particular, are struggling to remain financially viable. New revenue sources can help these facilities remain open and maintain critical access to care for those in rural and remote areas. For these facilities, new revenue has often required capital expenditures and overhead expenses that cannot be justified when weighed against the value they provide.

The issue has not just been about the equipment, either. Robotic surgery has traditionally required a dedicated operating room (OR) that may go unused for extended periods, or a new and costly building addition to house the equipment. Next-generation surgical robots solve this problem. They fit through existing doorways and can be wheeled from OR to OR without requiring new building additions or a dedicated OR space. Their portability also frees up an OR for traditional surgeries when robot-assisted surgeries are not indicated. The smaller footprint, increased portability, and efficient workflows make robotics a viable option for smaller hospitals with unique resource constraints. 

New technology is also easier to use and doesn’t require surgeons to become hyper-specialized in order to provide robot-assisted surgery. This enables rural hospitals to perform high-revenue, high-margin, minimally invasive procedures, rather than referring patients to larger facilities. Expanding service lines enables these hospitals to appeal to new patients who specifically look for facilities that offer the option of robot-assisted surgery. 

Already, patients and surgeons are attracted to hospitals that offer robotic surgery, and next-generation robots will be an even greater draw. The Vicarious Surgical robot requires only a single 1.5 cm incision, a major benefit for patients who want reduced recovery time with a lower risk of complications. The value creation lies in retaining and treating patients in their local community hospitals.

The value of robotic surgery is multifaceted. Next-generation surgical robots are designed to reduce surgery time, enabling a surgeon the potential to increase surgical volume and OR utilization. Next-generation robots also require smaller surgical teams and since the robot can be wheeled from one OR to another, the surgeon controlling the robot can easily bring it to other surgeries as soon as the robot is no longer needed.

In addition to the enhanced value potential associated with increased efficiencies, patients are happy to learn they will not spend as much time under anesthesia. A 2018 study found every 30 minutes of additional operating time was associated with a 14% increase in the likelihood of complications and researchers have suggested that reduced operative times should be a goal for all hospitals and surgeons. Cutting the time required for a surgical procedure offers both increased revenue for the surgeon and hospital, and potentially shorter recovery times for patients.

While a common complaint from hospital executives is the upfront cost of acquiring a surgical robot, help is on the way. Like other technological advances, new technology costs less and brings added value. This makes entering the robotic surgery world accessible to more facilities, hospitals, and surgeons looking for a new, viable option for patients. Hospitals and surgeons also benefit because newer technology is smaller, has lower overhead costs, allows for smaller clinical teams and increased OR utilization, and often fits into standard hospital storage spaces when not in use. The merging of science and technology with surgery is here to stay, and patients are realizing the benefits, with shorter surgeries, faster recoveries, and reduced risk of complications. Surgical robotics is a win-win for patients, surgeons, and hospitals. The next generation of surgical robots is transforming the way hospital leadership thinks about surgery and enhanced OR efficiency. Learn more at www.vicarioussurgical.com.

Adam Sachs is CEO of Vicarious Surgical, a surgical robotics company he co-founded in 2014. Sachs leads the development and commercialization of the company’s surgical robots to increase the efficiency of procedures and improve patient outcomes. 

Vicarious Surgical is a robotics company developing a disruptive technology that can improve patient outcomes, increase surgical efficiency, and reduce healthcare costs. The technology was granted FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, making it the only surgical robot to receive this designation from the FDA. The company is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.