Tuesday, September 14,2010 -Thomasville Times - 3
HEALTH
Robotic surgery is all the
rage, but price is high
LIFELONG HEALTH
DR. DAVID LIPSCHITZ
Syndicated Columnist
The last few decades
have led to great ad
vances in health care
— new breakthroughs in
medical therapies and
treatments seem to make
the impossible possible.
One of the most valuable
therapies has been the
development of endo
scopic surgery, which
involves using very tiny
incisions and small endo
scopic tubes to perform
a variety of procedures.
With this minimally
invasive technique, it is
now possible to remove
gaU bladders, the uterus
and ovaries, perform
back and sinus surgeries
and many more. Recov
ery occurs within days,
there is little pain, and
side effects are reduced.
This approach has not
only shortened hospital
stays and improved qual
ity of life, but it also has
reduced the cost of care.
In recent years, the
development of robotic
surgery has offered a
new and exciting fron
tier for surgical proce
dures. Marketed as the
Da Vinci system, this
device allows the sur
geon to perform highly
complex procedures
without ever touching
the patient. Working
from a console, the physi
cian uses the robot to
make small incisions.
And with miniatarfred
instnaments and a high
definition 3-D camera, is
able to perform the most
delicate of procedures.
Robotic surgery allows
the siurgical treatment of
colon, rectum, bladder
and kidney cancers and
is now widely used to
perform prostatectomies
for prostate cancefi The
machine has also been
used to repair heart
valve abnormalities and
coronary bypass smrgery.
Like endoscopic surgery
the robotic approaches
allow a shorter recovery
time, less blood loss,
less pain and a lower
risk of infection. This
technology has created
a great deal of excite
ment in the health care
community, and the use
of this approach has
shown explosive growth.
Though the robotic
surgery has brought
many medical advances
and benefits, it comes
with a high price tag.
In a recent article
published in the New
England Journal of
Medicine, researchers
examined the signifi
cant impact that this
technology has had on
health care costs. In
the past three years,
the number of robotic
surgeries performed in
the United States has
increased from 80,000 to
205,000, and the number
•of Da Vinci systems
available in hospitals
rose from 800 to 1,400.
Each system ranges in
price from $1 million
to $2.5 mUlion, and the
use of robotic surgery
increases the cost of
procedures anywhere
from $3,200 to $8,000.
Overall, robotic surger
ies increases the annual
cost of health care by
$2.5 billion. And if the
number of procedmres
continue to increase
at the current rate, the
total cost could run
higher in the billions.
In addition to cost,
there are other concerns
with robotic surgeries.
While it has opened
up complex and very
diSicult surgeries to
minimally invasive
approaches, the sys
tem is often used for
operations such as gall
bladder surgery and
hysterectomies, which
could just as easily be
performed using cheaper
endoscopic approaches.
There is also evidence
that the availability
of the robotic surgery
increases the number of
procedures performed.
Between 2005 and 2008,
prostatectomies in
creased by 60 percent,
despite a reduction in
the incidence of prostate
cancer. It has been sug
gested that the avail
ability of the robotic
approach has led to more
surgeons recommending
prostatectomy over other
forms of treatment.
Making matters more
complicated, studies
have shown the robotic
surgery for prostate can
cer has the same risk of
adverse effects as earlier
surgical approaches.
The incidence of erectUe
dysfunction, inconti
nence or infection is
identical with all forms
of surgical treatments
for prostate cancer.
The case of the ro
botic surgery is a perfect
example of how great
breakthroughs come
with great challenges.
Robotic surgery is a
valuable and exciting
advance in surgical treat
ment. However, it should
be used in circumstances
where other approaches
are not available or effec
tive. We must be aware
of the cost implications
and use the tried, proven,
highly effective therapies
when possible. More re
search is also needed to
compare the various ap
proaches to treatment, so
the health care commu
nity truly understands
all the alternatives.
Yom- physician is not
the only one responsible
for determining when
to employ the greatest
advances in medicine.
You, the patient, must
be an empowered and
active participant in
your medical decisions.
This is the only way
to assure the most ap
propriate treatment
possible. Remember,
newer does not always
mean better. In medicine,
while the tried and true
therapy may not be the
most exciting option, it
is often the most reliable.
Dr. David Lipschitz is
the author of the books
"Breaking the Rules of
Aging" and “Dr. David’s
First Health Book of
More Not Less. ” To
find out more about Dr.
David Lipschitz and read
features by other Cre
ators Syndicate writers
and cartoonists, visit the
Creators Syndicate Web
page at www.creators.
com. More information
is available at www.
DrDavidHealth.com.
Novant awarded by development council
TIMES Staff Report
GREENVILLE, S.C. - To the applause
of himdreds of minority business own
ers, corporate executives and procure
ment professionals from across the Car-
olinas, the Carolinas Minority Supplier
Development Council 2010 Business Op
portunity Conference recognized prog
ress and achievement by minority busi
nesses in honoring individuals and
corporations at their recent annual
awards program at the Hyatt Regency
GreenvUle^ South Carolina.
Dick WUkerson of Michelin, N.A. re
ceived the President’s Award celebrating
the leadership he provided on creating
access to capital through the Michelin
Development Fund for Disadvantaged
Businesses in the Upstate. Joe Mullen
of BMW Manufacturing was honored
as CMSDC Advocate of the Year for his
mentorship of minority enterprises,
his active pursuit of opportmiity cre
ation, building community awareness
and Involvement, and BMW’s volume
of business ciurently conducted with
minority business enterprises. Sharon
Campbell of Savannah River Nuclear
Solutions was saluted as Coordinator
of the Year for her tireless efforts to le
verage minority enterprise and develop
a more diverse supplier base at her or
ganization.
Cited as Regional Corporation of the
Year was BI-LO of Mauldin, South Car
olina. BI-LO was hailed for buUdlng of
commimity awareness around minority
issues, civic involvement, and contin
ued growth of business conducted with
minority business enterprises across
their multistate geographic footprint.
Denny’s Restaurants of Spartanburg,
S.C. was honored with the coveted Na
tional Corporation of the Year Award
for continued commitment to minority
business enterprises, mentorship and
support of minority businesses and
their leaders, civic involvement, and
continued growth of business with mi
nority organizations. ■
CMSDC leaders also celebrated the
Public-Private Sector. Organization of
the Year, presenting the award to Nov
ant Health of Winston-Salem, N.C. for
its commitment to minority business
purchasing, technical and managerial
assistance to such enterprises, and vol
ume of business opportunities dedicat
ed to minority companies.
Finally, Supplier of the Year Awards
were presented to Hoyles General Con
tractors of Charlotte in the Tier One
($1 million in revenues) category; De-
Whit Inc. of SimpsonvUle, S.C. in the
Tier Two ($1-10 million in revenues) cat
egory; and to Aten Clinical Solutions of
Cary, N.C, in the Tier Three (>$10 mil
lion revenues).
The 3-day event drew top executives
from leading organizations across the
Carolinas, Including Boeing, Volvo,
Denny’s, SCANA, Clemson, Enterprise
Holdings, Progress Energy, Bank of
America, Sonoco, Duke Energy, BMW,
BI-LO, WeUs Fargo, Michelin, Mack
Trucks, Merck, Food Lion, Turner Con
struction, Skanska, GE Healthcare, MU-
liken, Johnson Controls, SAS, First Citi
zens, Blue Cross Blue Shield, DeU, Coca
Cola, Shaw, Staples, Lockheed Martin,
Time Warner, Compass Group/Food
Buy, Greenville Hospital System, Nov
ant Health, Verizon, and GE Energy.
The program included a CEO Break
fast, a Legislative Roundtable discus
sion with public sector officials, a Pim-
chasing Panel of leading purchasing
executives. Diversity University train
ing sessions and trade show, and the
Awards Dinner to celebrate corporate
and minority business achievements.
“We are particularly proud to honor
individuals and organizations who un
derstand that promoting and support
ing the development of minority busi
ness enterprises (MBEs) not only helps
the business community, but is essential
See NOVANT, Page 12
■ '■'■r ■ ■
lii"
Health department to hold rabies clinic
TIMES Staff Report
The Davidson County Health Department is spon
soring a Rabies Clinic on Saturday, Sept. 18. The clinic
win be held at Tyro Middle School from 2-4 p.m. Dr.
Greg Hedrick will be administering the vaccines. The
cost is $5 i>er vaccination at the clinic.
AH rabies vaccines administered at the clinic will be
one-year vaccines only, unless the owner or responsi
ble party can show a rabies certificate proving the ani
mal is properly vaccinated. AU animals must remain
in the vehicle. The owner of the animal maintains re
sponsibility for their animal while at the clinic. Ani
mals should be handled by an adult. All dogs must be
on a leash and cats must be in a carrier.
fe*
You are not just a 4 o’clock procedure.
You are a mother, a daughter, a wife and a best friend.
You’re a mediator, a chauffeur, a role model, a nurturer,
a guidance counselor, a boss and a co-worker. You
are both a dependent and depended upon. You're
far more than a 4 o'clock procedure. We know that.
That’s why even with all of our advancements in
medicine, nothing can replace getting to know you
as a person first. We call it Total Care.
High Point Regional
Health System
OTAL CARE Inside and Out.'
ExperienceTotalCare.com
For a physician referral, call our contact center at 336.878.6888.