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Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo recently announced a major healthcare milestone for Howard County: the successful completion of its 1,000th robotic-assisted surgical procedure utilizing the advanced daVinci Surgical System.

As the only dedicated robotic surgery center in Howard County, this achievement highlights the hospital’s ongoing commitment to bringing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive medical technology to the local community, allowing patients to receive world-class care close to home.

“Reaching our 1,000th daVinci robotic procedure is a monumental milestone for Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo and a testament to the dedication of our incredible surgical and care teams,” said Don Damron, president and CEO of Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo. “When we introduced this advanced technology, our goal was to ensure that the residents of Howard County wouldn’t have to travel far to access the highest standard of minimally invasive care.

“This achievement isn’t just about a number. It represents 1,000 lives impacted by faster recoveries, less pain, and better clinical outcomes right here in our community. We look forward to continuing to innovate and elevate the care we provide for many years to come.”

The 1,000-procedure milestone comprises a diverse range of essential general surgery and gynecological operations. Key procedures contributing to this benchmark include:

• Hysterectomies
• Inguinal hernia repairs
• Ventral hernia repairs
• Gallbladder removals (cholecystectomies)
• Diagnostic laparoscopies
• Hiatal hernia repairs

Robotic-assisted surgery allows highly trained surgeons to operate with enhanced precision, superior visualization, and greater control. For patients, the benefits of the daVinci system over traditional open surgery are profound, often resulting in smaller incisions, significantly less post-operative pain, lower risk of complications or infection, and a faster recovery time that gets them back to their families and daily lives sooner.