PBMC Health's Agostino Cervone, MD, FACS hosts first da Vinci Single Site Case Observation Site on Long Island

CONTACT:
Mary Thomas
Manager of Medical Center Communications
Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC)
Ph: (631) 548-6088
Email:   mthomas@pbmchealth.org

"Surgeons teaching Surgeons"

RIVERHEAD, NY - Continuing its commitment to being at the forefront of advanced medical technology, Peconic Bay Medical Center has been chosen  by Intuitive Surgical - the maker of the da Vinci® surgical system, as the first da Vinci Single Site Case Observation Site on Long Island. Peconic Bay Medical Center is the first and only hospital on Long Island and one of only a few in the entire Northeast.

Dr. Agostino Cervone, General Surgeon at Peconic Bay Medical Center, and the most experienced da Vinci single site surgeon on Long Island, will be hosting outside surgeons from around the country for da Vinci Single Site case observations. As a pioneer in advanced robotic surgery techniques and leader in his field, Dr. Cervone will be teaching and moderating these educational programs . Visiting surgeons are able to watch the surgery in real-time as Dr. Cervone explains the procedure he is performing and the techniques being used.

Participants interact and ask questions as they observe da Vinci Single Site cholecystectomy as well as da Vinci hiatal hernias, ventral hernias, and colon resections.

Dr. Cervone is one of a number of PBMC surgeons across multiple specialties that are leaders in the use of the da Vinci robotic system . In fact, PBMC along with its surgeons was the first community hospital in Suffolk County to introduce the da Vinci system.

Equipped with the most advanced robotic technology available today, visiting surgeons also have an opportunity to get hands-on with PBMC's da Vinci skills simulator.  Surgeons use this training simulator to refine their skills and master various robot-assisted techniques. This system is similar to a flight simulator that pilots use when training to fly jet airplanes. The robotic surgery simulator enables surgeons to perfect their skills and meet the stringent requirements necessary for performing highly-precise robot-assisted surgery. "PBMC's Kanas Center for Advanced Surgery provides an ideal environment for teaching and training so that overall skill levels are increased and more surgeons can provide their patients with the world-class surgical capabilities made possible by the da Vinci Si, said Dr. Cervone.  "By educating other physicians and surgeons about the latest advances in robotic surgery, we are ultimately helping more patients who will benefit from this type of surgery."

Using miniaturized, remote-controlled high-definition 3-D cameras to see inside the body, the da Vinci Si® surgical system uses single site incision -eliminating the need for large incisions, reducing blood loss and tissue damage to a fraction of what happens in traditional surgery. The fail-safe robotic controls enable incredibly nimble and precise movements of the surgical instruments, so the surgeon's skills are multiplied along with safety for the patient.

"This is a major advancement for our hospital", said Andrew J. Mitchell, FACHE, President and CEO of Peconic Bay Medical Center and Peconic Bay Medical Center. "Dr. Cervone is a leader in his field with quality outcomes. Our robotic surgery program and highly skilled and dedicated team is committed to continually improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve through the pursuit of excellence in healthcare and state-of- the-art technology".

Since installation of its original da Vinci system in 2010, PBMC has earned recognition by a leading national consumer ratings agency as one of the top two hospitals for patient safety in the Tri-State area, and one of the top three in all of New York State.

"Being a da Vinci Single Site Case Observation  Site enables us to expand the number of great surgeons who perform advanced surgeries  in and outside our region, which will be a great benefit to all patients", says Dr. Cervone.