Rush University System for Health has become the first health system in the Midwest and one of only five in the nation to fully upgrade its fleet of da Vinci surgical robots to the latest da Vinci 5 (DV5) platform.
The milestone builds on Rush's long-standing leadership in robotic-assisted surgery and supports the work of surgeons and care teams who perform robotic procedures across a wide range of specialties. Through the Rush Robotic Surgery program, patients have access to advanced minimally invasive surgical care at Rush University Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Copley Medical Center.
"Becoming the first health system in the Midwest to fully upgrade to the da Vinci 5 platform is an exciting milestone, but what matters most is what this means for our patients," said Gillian Alex, MD, director of robotic surgery and education for Rush University System for Health. "Compared to traditional open surgical approaches, robotic-assisted surgery may offer benefits like smaller incisions, less pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery."
Rush surgeons perform robotic-assisted procedures for both routine and highly complex conditions across specialties including general surgery, colorectal surgery, bariatric surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, gynecology and others. The Rush Robotic Surgery program brings together surgeons, perioperative staff and robotic surgery specialists from across the health system to support exceptional patient care while advancing education, training and clinical innovation.
"Patients throughout the Rush system benefit from the same commitment to surgical excellence, whether they receive care in Chicago, Oak Park or Aurora," said Justine Zilliken, system vice president of surgical and procedural services for Rush University System for Health. "This upgrade helps ensure our teams have access to leading-edge technology as they continue providing high-quality, patient-centered surgical care close to home."
As an academic health system, Rush continues to advance robotic surgery through research, innovation and education. The systemwide DV5 upgrade builds on nearly two decades of robotic surgery experience at Rush and reflects an ongoing commitment to expanding access to advanced surgical care for patients across the region.
Learn more about the Rush Robotic Surgery program.
