WinnMed Board Educated On Potential da Vinci Robotic Surgery Investment

DECORAH -- The WinnMed Board of Trustees was briefed Wednesday on the da Vinci 5 and da Vinci Xi robotic surgery systems, cutting-edge surgical tools that utilize artificial intelligence currently under evaluation for purchase by the hospital, during a board education session focused on the clinical, operational, and strategic implications of adopting the technology. Representatives from Intuitive Surgical, the manufacturer of the da Vinci system, joined the session to provide what Chief Administrative Officer Steve Slessor called "initial education about the da Vinci. What it is, what the trends look like, where these systems are located, what they do." The cost of a da Vinci system ranges between $2.05 million and $2.65 million depending on the model. Slessor emphasized that the board was not being asked to take immediate action, but rather to learn about the technology and its potential impact. "Given the high dollar figure that we're talking about, it's going to be paid for over a number of years. [I] didn't want to put it in front of you in one meeting and ask for your approval, but rather educate you and give you a chance to ask questions," he said, noting that a full proposal and discussion involving local surgeons could follow at the next board meeting. The system, which enables minimally invasive surgeries using advanced robotic instrumentation, is already in widespread use nationally. "da Vinci is now the main way that soft tissue surgery is done in the United States," said Ryan Omvig, Intuitive's Area Sales Manager. According to Omvig, general surgery makes up about 60% of da Vinci procedures in Iowa, mirroring national trends. Brad Krueger, Clinical Sales Manager with Intuitive, described the da Vinci 5 as having "10,000 times the computing power of the previous model," offering enhanced visualization, precision, and — for the first time — haptic feedback, allowing surgeons to "feel" tissue interactions. In Iowa, there are currently 54 of these systems (3 of which are recently installed da Vinci 5 models) in hospitals, including several critical access hospitals similar to WinnMed. Recruitment of surgeons was identified as a key motivator for considering the investment. "We have a new general surgeon that has done the last two years kind of exclusively on the da Vinci," Slessor said. The board also discussed the integration of the da Vinci into existing surgical infrastructure. "We built one of our two new operating rooms sized particularly to be able to house a da Vinci," Slessor explained. Intuitive confirmed the space would be suitable for either model currently under consideration. Training, credentialing, support, and liability were also addressed. "Our team has very intimate relationships with hospitals to really support helping to grow their programs," Krueger said. Omvig assured the board that Intuitive provides comprehensive training and maintenance, including "a 98% uptime guarantee and full support from a field engineer". Board members will have a chance to inspect the system in person at the end of this month, when Intuitive will bring the da Vinci robot to the hospital for demonstrations. "It'll be all day," said Slessor, "so board members all can file through, whatever works for you." If the board chooses to proceed with the acquisition, Winneshiek would join a growing number of rural hospitals investing in robotic-assisted surgery as part of broader efforts to improve clinical outcomes, attract surgeons, and retain patients locally.