Providence St. Joseph Hospital of Orange Earns Robotics Center of Excellence Designation

Providence St. Joseph Hospital of Orange has received accreditation as a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). This prestigious accreditation recognizes that Providence St. Joseph Hospital is among the best in the country in this specialty while providing the highest quality of care and patient safety. SRC is a non-profit patient safety organization, dedicated to improving the safety and quality, while lowering the overall costs associated with successful treatments.

According to Providence St. Joseph Hospital Chief Executive Jeremy Zoch, PhD, MHA, FACHE, “I appreciate the commitment to surgical excellence. Receiving this designation, while also achieving a milestone of 10,000 robotic surgeries earlier this summer, affirms our commitment to providing patients with access to advanced medical technologies, expert physicians, and excellent, compassionate care close to home.

SRC accreditations are unique as they are awarded to individual surgeons and medical professionals in conjunction with facilities. SRC’s Robotic Surgery accreditation program recognizes Janis D. Fee, MD, Sami Hamamji, MD, Abtin Khosravi, MD, as Surgeons of Excellence in Robotics Surgery in this initial accreditation. These three physicians demonstrate an unparalleled commitment and ability to consistently deliver safe, effective, evidence-based care. The program is structured to help providers continuously improve care quality and patient safety. More Providence St. Joseph surgeons are expected to receive this designation in the future.

"This advanced robotic technology transforms the way surgery is performed, enabling surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy,” explains Abtin Khosravi, MD, St. Joseph Hospital's medical director of the Robotics Program. “Achieving the Center of Excellence accreditation in Robotic Surgery demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of care and patient safety. I am proud to be recognized along with my colleagues as Surgeons of Excellence and look forward to more surgeons achieving this distinction as our program continues to grow. 

In 2003, St. Joseph Hospital was among the first 25 hospitals in the world to offer robotic surgery. According to urologist Ashok J. Kar, MD, the first medical director for the Robotics Program and the first surgeon to perform the hospital’s first robotic case, “When we acquired our first robot, most hospitals didn’t understand its benefits or potential. Today, 95 percent of prostatectomies are performed using the robot.” Dr. Kar adds, “We instituted robotic surgery in multiple disciplines to justify the technology to other hospitals. Many of our physicians have taught, lectured and proctored robotic surgery all over the world.”

The hospital has continued to add robotics technology. “In fact,” says Dr. Kar, “the latest generation robots are now used in numerous other types of surgeries and have more sophisticated capabilities. For instance, St. Joseph Hospital now does single-port robotic procedures requiring just one small incision, while the original robotic procedures I did used five ports through five small incisions.”

Healthcare facilities and surgeons seeking an SRC accreditation undergo an extensive assessment and inspection process to ensure the applicant meets SRC’s proven standards and requirements. These requirements include surgical volumes, facility equipment, clinical pathways and standardized operating procedures, an emphasis on patient education and continuous quality assessment. The inspection involves all staff working with surgeons in the accredited program. Inspectors educate staff on best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.

To learn more about the Robotic Surgery Program at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange, click here.