SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Less than five months after ushering in a new era of surgical innovation, Regional West marked a milestone one-hundredth da Vinci® Surgical System procedure on July 6.

Regional West’s new robotic surgery suite opened in February. Robotic surgery combines the best features of traditional open and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. It can potentially offer less pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times and is best suited for gynecologic, prostate, kidney, gallbladder, hernia, and colorectal surgeries.

Bradley Hertzler, MD, a surgeon with Regional West Physicians Clinic-Surgery, Vascular Diagnostics, performed the one-hundredth da Vinci® surgery, and is excited about the possibilities offered by robotic surgery.

“Surgeries and procedures that once required sizable incisions and long recoveries are now minimally invasive, less painful, and return patients to normal activities in a matter of days,” he said. “It’s very rewarding seeing the benefits offered to our patients with robotic surgery.”

In addition to Dr. Hertzler, Regional West physicians currently performing robotic surgery include Jeffrey Holloway, MD, FACS, Regional West Physicians Clinic-Surgery, Vascular Diagnostics, and Kristin Harkins, MD, FACOG; and Matthew Bruner, MD, FACOG, Regional West Physicians Clinic-Women’s Center. Additional Regional West providers and specialties will soon offer robotic surgery.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 in-network providers, and 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.