Hospital receives high marks for robotic surgery program
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has received accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation.
The designation signifies that St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s robotic surgery services provide the highest quality of care to patients.
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North underwent a series of inspections and visits where all aspects of the robotic surgical program were scrutinized.
The inspection and visit process involved physicians, nurses and administrators within robotic surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.
The accreditation process is done every three years. The hospital will be up for reaccreditation in 2027.
Surgeons have performed nearly 3,500 robotic surgeries from 2014 to July 31, 2024. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is on track to perform more than 700 robotic surgeries in 2024 – the highest number of robotic surgeries in a year in the hospital’s history.
The top three years at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North for robotic surgeries are 655 in 2023, 647 in 2022 and 533 in 2021.
“Accreditation shows our dedication to high-quality surgery outcomes for our patients,” said Jennifer Downing, surgical services director at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. “Robotic surgery is minimally invasive and can provide faster recovery times so our patients can get back to their regular lives and activities quickly with less pain and less downtime.”
The surgeon operates the robot from a console that has four interactive arms and a high-resolution screen that projects 3-D images of the surgical site. The surgeon manually operates the instruments using their hands and fingers. When the surgeon moves, the instruments respond precisely to those movements in real time. The instruments work identically to the movement of a human arm, human elbow and a human wrist, however with an enhanced range of motion.
Robotic surgery can provide superior dexterity, enhanced vision and improved surgical access compared to conventional minimally invasive surgery or traditional open surgery. The robot navigates a precise approach to areas that traditional surgical instruments are unable to reach.
Many robotic surgeries are done as outpatient surgery, and patients are discharged on the same day as their surgery.
Dr. Louis Matherne IV, a BayCare Medical Group general surgeon, has performed robotic surgery since 2016. He uses the robot at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North for surgeries on the gallbladder, appendix, colon, small bowel and hernias.
Matherne was a strong proponent of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North pursuing the Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery status and designation.
“We perform a high number of robotic cases at St. Joe’s North,” Matherne said. “It is important for that to be recognized and the community to know that we have the expertise and ability to do advanced robotic surgeries safely with good outcomes. If people are looking for minimally invasive surgery, they should look here at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.”
Robotic surgeries at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North are performed in gynecology, urology, colorectal and general surgery. Learn more at StJosephsNorthRobotics.org.
New coffeehouse promotes inclusion
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has opened a new coffeehouse, located in the hospital’s Twigs Café, in partnership with the community organization CUP.
It is staffed by employees of CUP — Coffee Uniting People, a nonprofit Tampa Bay organization about inclusion, empowerment, acceptance and opportunity for people of all abilities. Employees of CUP have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Having CUP here allows us to really deepen our culture of inclusivity and live it every single day,” said Mary Partridge, the hospital’s operations director. “These employees have a lot to teach us and I’m excited about everything that is to come.
CUP will offer a variety of coffee and tea options, light snacks and baked goods. This is its third location in the Tampa area.
Algal toxin prompts alert
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County issued a health alert Aug. 28 for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Blanton Lake.
This was in response to a water sample taken on Aug 27, 2024.
The department urged the public to be cautious in and around Blanton Lake.
Residents and visitors were advised to take the following precautions:
- Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
- Wash skin and clothing with soap and water if there is contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
- Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
- Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
- Eating filets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish filets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
- Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
The department encouraged the public to report a bloom by calling 855-305-3903, report fish kills by calling 1-800-636-0511 and report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to call 1-800-222-1222. Veterinarians can address issues related to pets. Other questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms can be addressed by the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County by calling 813-619-0300.
Hospital offers newborn classes
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North will offer these free in-person classes and events in September:
- Breastfeeding Support Group – Sept. 12 and 26, 12:30 to 2 p.m.
- Understanding Breastfeeding – Sept. 12, 3 to 6 p.m.
- Understanding Your Newborn – Sept. 26, 3 to 6 p.m.
The hospital is located at 4211 Van Dyke Road, Lutz.
Registration is required. Visit BayCareEvents.org and choose “St. Joseph’s Hospital-North” in the “Facility/Location” filter, or call 855-314-8352 and press the number 2 at the prompt.
Classes are for those who have delivered or will deliver their baby.
Recovery walk set for Sept. 21
The ASAP Recovery Committee at Empowered Communities is registering participants for the fourth annual Stronger Together Recovery Walk.
The walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 21 at Sims Park in New Port Richey. It will include vendors, speakers, food, prizes, music and kids’ activities.
The first 200 people will receive a free T-shirt. Admission is free.
Email to walk or become a vendor.
‘Denying Gravity’ address aging
SAGES Theater will usher in National Fall Prevention Month with a free performance of “Denying Gravity.”
The play is a collaboration among the theater, local first responders and groups like the AARP and Area Agencies on Aging.
It is a “narrative woven with humor and heartache that resonates profoundly with older adults and their loved ones,” according to a news release.
The play will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey.
Sign language interpreters will be there.
There also will be resource tables, complimentary goody bags and prize drawings.
Reserve a free seat by visiting MyTBtickets.com or SagesTheater.org (and click on the RED reservation banner). Call 727-692-0902 for more information.
