Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC) is marking a significant milestone in advanced surgical care: 20 years of robotic-assisted surgery, celebrating two decades of innovation, clinical leadership and improved patient outcomes for the Hampton Roads community.
Riverside launched its robotic surgery program in 2005, becoming one of the earliest adopters of robotic-assisted technology in the nation. At the time, fewer than 100 hospitals in the United States had a robotic surgery program. Since then, the program has grown into a comprehensive, multi-specialty service line, with more than 6,000 robotic procedures performed across urology, gynecology, general surgery, thoracic surgery, cardiac surgery, gynecology oncology, and urogynecology.
Leading the program since its inception is Dr. Scott Burgess, Urologist with Riverside Urology Specialists and Robotic Committee Chair at Riverside, who has been instrumental in building and expanding the program over the past two decades.
“When we introduced robotic surgery 20 years ago, it fundamentally changed how we could care for patients,” said Dr. Burgess. “This technology gave surgeons greater precision and control, and patients immediately benefited from less pain, faster recovery and better overall experiences. Watching this program grow across so many specialties has been incredibly rewarding.”
The robotic surgery program at Riverside began with urologic procedures, including robotic prostate surgery, and expanded within its early years to gynecologic oncology. As technology advanced, so did Riverside’s capabilities, allowing robotic-assisted surgery to support increasingly complex and delicate procedures across multiple disciplines.
Today, robotic-assisted surgery at RRMC offers patients a wide range of benefits, particularly for procedures that demand a high level of precision. These advantages include:
- Less pain and discomfort during recovery
- Faster recovery, helping patients return to everyday life sooner
- Enhanced surgical precision for complex and delicate procedures
- Minimal rick of infection
- Shorter inpatient hospital stays or outpatient procedures when appropriate
- Smaller incisions and minimized scarring
- An overall improved surgical and recovery experience
Over the years, Riverside has continued to invest in the latest robotic platforms, evolving from early-generation systems to today’s advanced technology. These investments reflect Riverside’s long-term commitment to providing high-quality, minimally invasive surgical care even as the technology requires significant ongoing resources and training.
“For 20 years, Riverside has made a deliberate investment in advanced surgical technology because our patients deserve the highest level of care close to home,” said Dr. Oshiki, President of Riverside Regional Medical Center. “Our robotic surgery program reflects our long-term commitment to innovation, safety and exceptional outcomes and to ensuring our community has access to world-class surgical care now and into the future.”
As Riverside Regional Medical Center celebrates this 20-year milestone, the organization remains focused on the future of robotic-assisted surgery, continuing to expand access, advance clinical expertise and bring the latest innovations in minimally invasive care to the community.
For more information about robotic-assisted surgery at RRMC, visit riversideonline.com/roboticsurgery.