into super-human
surgeons," says Dr.
Ross.
More than
marketing?
Most surgeons can
perform basic abdomi-
nal procedures with-
out the robot, points
out Dr. Grossmann.
But he does acknowl-
edge that more abdominal procedures will be done with robotic assis-
tance.
"This will be the year of the robotic explosion," says Dr. Grossmann.
"In the UK, Germany and even the U.S., we're seeing new surgical
robotic platforms that are challenging the monopoly in the market
and that will lead to cheaper, more versatile options. I think there's a
push from industry, from facility administrators and from patients to
do everything robotically."
There's no denying the marketing power of being able to say your
facility has a robot — the technology might set you apart from the
competition in patients' eyes. But cost is still a common barrier to
widespread adoption of the technology, and understandably so. Many
surgical leaders can't look past the minimal $2 million upfront cost
and $100,000 annual maintenance fees.
Experts hope market competition — several companies are in the
process of launching platforms to take on the da Vinci — will make
the technology more affordable in the near future.
Dr. Ross agrees that overall use of robotic platforms will continue to
A P R I L 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 3 7
• INCREASED ACCESS Robotic surgery continues to evolve, and market competi-
tion could make the technology more available to a greater number of facilities.
Florida
Hospital
Tampa
