FOR MAKATI MEDICAL CENTER, THE FUTURE IS NOW WITH ACQUISITION OF DA VINCI XI ROBOTIC SYSTEM
BACK in 2010, premier hospital Makati Medical Center had wanted to acquire a robotic surgical system to live up to its vision of being the leading healthcare facility in the country with top notch service, expertise and technology.
At that time, it was disapproved because there were other priorities that needed to be addressed. These priorities, according to Dr. Saturnino P. Javier, Medical Director and Interim Co-president and CEO of Makati Medical Center, were “very basic, simple needs that the hospital had to address on top of the robotics platform.”
“But comparing that time to today, many things have changed. If you put in that robotics technology last week, there are people who can use it already. Back in 2010, the doctors were on their learning curve. Today, it is different,” Dr. Javier said during the launch of the da Vinci Robotic System.
He added that “because we allowed it to slip through our hands, another hospital benefitted from it and keep in mind that those doctors who operate, a good number of them are Makatimed based.”
“So another hospital took advantage of the expertise of our own doctors to make this platform work,” Dr. Javier said.
Another reason for pushing for the acquisition of the system is that Makatimed wanted to offer an option to patients. He pointed out that patients have preferences and he sometimes “heaves a sigh of frustration whenever I learn that someone has been transferred to another hospital because the equipment is not available in Makatimed.”
“We want to make sure that our line of equipment is complete so that we don’t have any more leakages to other hospitals. We will give our patients the complete line of options from which to choose from,” he said, adding that the hospital will couple the technology with the kind of compassionate service that the hospital is known for.
“I think the difference lies in terms of who drives the technology and when I saw who drives it or who uses it, it’s the doctors, the team, the nursing team who will all be part of the operators group using that particular technology. So the technology is just one aspect of the care. You still need to have the compassionate service and the expertise,” Dr. Javier added.
For him, the acquisition of the robotic system cements Makatimed’s position as the leading hospital not only in the country but in the Metro Pacific Health group of hospitals as well.
“So far, Makatimed is the only hospital in the Metro Pacific Health group that has the robotic surgery platform,” he added.
The da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgery System offers several advantages. It allows surgeons to make smaller incisions, reducing the risk of infection and promoting faster healing. Patients experience less pain and discomfort, leading to shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries. This means they can return to their normal routines sooner, with minimal scarring and reduced need for blood transfusions.
The da Vinci System is versatile as it caters to treatments in the fields of urology, hepatobiliary, cardiovascular, thoracic, and general surgery, Ob-gyne, and otorhinolaryngology or ENT. In each area, it enables surgeons to perform procedures with greater precision and minimally invasive techniques.
This groundbreaking advancement in surgical technology means that patients now have the option to receive this precision surgical care at Makatimed, setting a new standard for surgical excellence in the Philippines. Beyond technological advancements, Makatimed prides itself on its unwavering dedication to providing compassionate care, ensuring that every patient receives personalized attention throughout their surgical journey—saving time and resources through a holistic service.
With the introduction of the da Vinci Xi® Robotic System, Makatimed marks a significant milestone towards shaping the future of surgery. Patients can trust they are in good hands, receiving topnotch care with the latest technology available.