The surgery department of Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has recently reached the milestone of 5,000 surgical procedures completed using a daVinci robot, which allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery. BVHS is only the second health system in northwest Ohio to achieve this milestone.

The first robot was purchased at Blanchard Valley Hospital (BVH) in 2010 followed by three more purchased in 2011, 2015 and 2018 respectively. Utilizing this robot allows surgeons to increase accuracy due to the greater visibility it provides. Patients who undergo robotic surgery experience faster recoveries, shorter lengths of stay at the hospital and less scarring.

“The addition of minimally invasive robots in our surgery department at BVHS has allowed our experienced providers to complete a wide range of procedures,” said Trevor Schmiedebusch, RN and director of surgery at BVHS. “We are celebrating 5,000 completed robotic surgeries that have allowed our surgeons to provide elite, measurable care to patients.”

The addition of robots to BVHS has allowed minimally invasive surgery to expand to Bluffton Hospital. The most common robotic surgeries include total hysterectomy, hernia and colorectal procedures.

“BVHS is committed to providing the highest quality care to our patients using today’s most updated technologies,” commented Chris Keller, president of Bluffton Hospital and vice president of clinical services and supply chain for BVHS. “We are proud to have accomplished 5,000 minimally invasive robotic surgeries thus far and look forward to continuing this service for our patients.”