WellSpan's Evangelical Hospital to Launch Da Vinci Robotic Surgeries March 24

Patients in Union County will be able to receive da Vinci robot-assisted hernia and gallbladder procedures at WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital beginning March 24, hospital leaders announced. The arrival of the da Vinci Xi system and staff training mark a visible expansion of surgical capabilities at the Lewisburg facility.

A da Vinci Xi surgical robot was delivered to the hospital last month, and surgical teams have been undergoing simulation sessions and certification courses in preparation for the first cases. General surgeon Dr. Christopher Motto said the hospital will use the system primarily for hernia, gallbladder and bariatric procedures, with plans to broaden its applications over time. “I would like to see us become the area’s leader in robotic surgeries,” Dr. Motto said. “It will interest patients and referring providers to consider Evangelical as the source of minimally invasive surgeries. Ultimately, I hope we can grow our practice and bring more patients into the hospital through the benefits of the robot.”

The da Vinci Xi is manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. The Xi "features boom-mounted arms with multi-position set up joints designed to help maximize the surgical workspace externally and internally. From a single cart location, staff has greater arm positioning capabilities, and surgeons can operate more easily across multiple quadrants with the freedom to complete a wide range of minimally invasive procedures," according to Intuitive. The system is a three-piece unit composed of a patient cart, a surgeon console offering an immersive, ergonomic experience, and a vision cart supporting a 3DHD vision system.

Hospital officials emphasized that the term "robot" can be misleading: the system is fully surgeon-controlled and does not operate autonomously. Nursing staff who have taken part in training expressed enthusiasm for the new capability and for changes to workflow that the unit will bring.

WellSpan Health cleared regulatory approval in July and acquired Evangelical Community Hospital, located at 1 Hospital Drive in Lewisburg, as part of its regional network. The da Vinci installation is one element of more than $100 million in planned investment from WellSpan into Evangelical over the first three years of the affiliation.

For Lewisburg and Union County residents, the addition brings more local access to minimally invasive surgical options that previously may have required travel to larger centers. Dr. Motto and hospital leaders are positioning Evangelical to attract referrals from surrounding communities and to retain more patients locally.

As the program begins March 24, officials will monitor case volumes, training progress and opportunities to add specialties. For now, patients with hernia, gallbladder and bariatric needs can expect robot-assisted options at Evangelical, with the hospital signaling that more service growth will follow as staff complete certification and experience accumulates.