Patients and associates test drive the da Vinci 5 at Ascension St. Vincent's Clay County

Ascension St. Vincent's is committed to expanding access to quality care across our communities in Northeast Florida.

Ascension St. Vincent's Clay County recently became the first and only hospital in the county to add the Intuitive da Vinci 5 surgical robot, enabling surgeons to feel and see more during minimally invasive procedures.

This week, the hospital hosted patients, associates, and others, allowing them to try the system for themselves through an interactive demonstration.

"The da Vinci 5 reflects our commitment to investing in state-of-the-art technologies that enhance our patients' quality of care and experience at our hospital," said Bryan Walrath, President and CEO of St. Vincent's Clay County. "Our surgeons and care teams look forward to utilizing the system's best-in-class capabilities to improve the health of those in the Clay County community who need it most."

With high-definition cameras and customizable instruments, robotic systems enable surgeons to feel more and see more during procedures. This capability enables them to make smaller incisions, typically less than an inch, which results in less scarring and pain and promotes faster recovery.

The new system features more than 150 enhancements, including:
- A first-of-its-kind force-sensing technology that significantly decreases damage to patients' tissue
- Improved accuracy and precision
- Next-generation 3D display and image processing enables surgeons to see more during procedures
- Remote consultation and team collaboration, improving care by allowing specialists to consult in real-time
- 10,000 times more computing power

The da Vinci 5 is used surgeons for many complex surgical procedures to help care for patients with both benign and malignant conditions. While the surgical robot has interactive arms that serve as extensions of the surgeon's hands, surgeons remain in full control of every operation.