Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Since the introduction of the da Vinci System more than five years ago, the da Vinci System has been used successfully in tens of thousands of procedures. Its safety and efficacy have been documented in hundreds of clinical publications. The literature supporting da Vinci’s use is extensive, covering all surgical specialties where the System is used.

When medication, lifestyle changes and other non-surgical treatments cannot relieve symptoms, surgery is the accepted treatment for a broad range of conditions. But surgery can be a scary proposition, no matter how routine the procedure. If your physician recommends surgery, you want to learn as much as you can about your surgical options and find the physician and hospital that can provide the procedure and approach that are right for you. While surgery is generally the most effective treatment option for a range of conditions, traditional open surgery with a large incision has its drawbacks – pain, trauma, long recovery time and risk of infection.

Thanks to the latest evolution in surgical technology, physicians now have an effective alternative to traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy that may allow them to provide patients with the best of both approaches. With the assistance of the da Vinci Surgical System, surgeons can now operate using only 1-2 cm incisions, but with greater precision and control than ever before. Da Vinci can help surgeons minimize the pain and risk associated with surgery while increasing the likelihood of a fast recovery and excellent clinical outcomes.

A little change. A big difference.

We make many choices a day, most of which end up effecting our health in some way. By micromanaging these decisions we can learn to program ourselves to choose healthy consistently. Here are some ideas to start improving health today!

Drink

	Use fat free milk over whole milk.
	Drink water before a meal.
	Drink diet soda.
	Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation, if at all.
	Order your latte or hot chocolate with fat-free (skim) milk.
	Drink water or club soda—zest it up with a wedge of lemon or lime.

Cook

	Grill, steam or bake instead of frying.
	Grill fruits or vegetables.
	Bake or broil fish.
	Make up a batch of brownies with applesauce instead of oil or shortening.
	Use whole grains in mixed dishes such as barley in vegetable soups or stews, bulgur in casseroles, or brown rice in stir fries.
	Vary your veggies – it’s easy to go dark green. Add frozen chopped spinach, collard greens, or turnip greens into a pot of soup.
	Microwave a sweet potato for a delicious side dish.
	Get your calcium-rich foods. Use fat-free or low-fat milk instead of water when you make oatmeal, hot cereals, or condensed cream soups, such as cream of tomato.
	Trim visible fat from meat and remove skin from poultry.
	Broil, grill, roast, or poach meal, poultry or fish

Exercise

	Do sit-ups in front of the TV.
	Skate to work instead of driving.
	Bicycle to the store instead of driving.
	Choose an activity that fits into your daily life.
	Ask a friend to exercise with you.
	Make time in your day for physical activity.
	Exercise with a video if the weather is bad.
	Bike to the barbershop or beauty salon instead of driving.
	If you find it difficult to be active after work, try it before work.
	Take a walk or do desk exercises instead of a cigarette or coffee break.
	Take small trips on foot to get your body moving.
	Play with your kids 30 minutes a day.
	Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and office.
	Choose activities you enjoy & you'll be more likely to stick with them.

Do

	Avoid food portions larger than your fist.
	Mow lawn with push mower.
	Increase the fiber in your diet.
	Join an exercise group.
	Do yard work.
	Skip seconds.
	Work around the house.
	Skip buffets.
	Take dog to the park.
	Ask your doctor about taking a multi-vitamin.
	Use vegetable oils over solid fats.
	Fetch the newspaper yourself.
	Sit up straight at work.
	Wash the car by hand.
	Run when running errands.
	Pace the sidelines at kids' athletic games.

Eat

	Eat leaner red meat & poultry.
	Eat half your dessert.
	Eat off smaller plates.
	More carrots, less cake.
	Eat more celery sticks.
	Try your burger with just lettuce, tomato, and onion.
	Share an entree with a friend.
	Before going back for seconds, wait 10 or 10 minutes. You might not want seconds after all.
	Snack on fruits and vegetables.
	When eating out, choose a small or medium portion.