UHL takes two prizes at national awards
Simon Bourke | March 17, 2017
Receiving the award for Healthcare Department Initiative in a Large/Teaching Hospital were members of the Robotic Surgery Team at UL Hospitals.
The efforts of staff at UL Hospitals Group has been recognised at this year's Irish Healthcare Centre Awards.
UHL received the award for best Healthcare Department Initiative in Emergency Care for the Development and Implementation of an ED Nursing Proforma for Post Triage Assessment of Adult Patients.
And UL Hospitals Group won the award for Healthcare Department Initiative in a Large/Teaching Hospital for the Implementation of a Robotic-Assisted Surgery Program.
The award for the Initiative in Emergency Care arises from research conducted by Sarah Watkins, an ED nurse at UHL and PhD candidate at the University of Limerick, on the journey of older patients in the ED and the contribution of nurses in acute services. The ongoing project has seen the introduction of more evidence-based and standardised nursing documentation in the ED, promoting more comprehensive patient assessment and safety.
In 2016, UHL became the first hospital in Ireland to perform colorectal, renal and adrenal surgical procedures using the state of the art Da Vinci Xi Dual Console robot. Further subspecialties and surgeons will be joining the robotic program as the year progresses. The first ever live stream of robotic surgery in Ireland was carried out at UHL in November 2016 and earlier this month, UHL hosted the inaugural Irish training course on robotic surgery.
In addition to the winners, a number of other clinical teams and projects at UL Hospitals were shortlisted in this year's awards.
The nominees were as follows:
Clinical Team of the Year: Clinic/Small Department – Dermatology Department UL Hospitals
Healthcare Department Initiative: Maternity Care – University Maternity Hospital Limerick: 'Actively Seeking Women's Views and Involving the Service User in the Planning and Design of Services'
Maternity Hospital/Unit of the Year: University Maternity Hospital Limerick
Healthcare Building Project of the Year: UHL Renal Dialysis and Ambulatory Care Centre
Commenting on the success of the awards night, Colette Cowan, CEO, UL Hospitals Group said:
"We were delighted to get so many nominations and doubly so to see two of our teams get this well-deserved national recognition.
"At a time when it has become fashionable to say the health service has run out of ideas, it is great to see two initiatives that have grown out of the MidWest – and which are already delivering for our patients – recognised at a national level," said Ms Cowan.
eHealth Ireland
Great article by eHealthIreland on the progression of the Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) Program at UL Hospital
http://www.ehealthireland.ie/Case-Studies-/Robotic-Assisted-Surgery-Programme-/
Posted on May 13, 2017 September 27, 2017
State of the art €2.6m surgical robot unveiled at UHL
INNOVATION: DA VINCI MACHINE LOCATED AT HOSPITAL
by Fintan Walsh
Patient Michael Hanrahan with Colette Cowan, Prof J Calvin Coffey and surgeon Subhasis Giri Picture: Brian Arthur
A "STATE-of-the-art" surgical robot has been launched at University Hospital Limerick, making it one of the most medically-advanced cancer treatment facilities in Ireland.
The Da Vinci Xi Dual Console Robot, the details of which were first revealed by the Limerick Leader this September, is the first of its kind in a public hospital in Ireland, valued at €2.6m.
Donated by the Midwestern Hospitals Development Trust, and funded by the JP McManus Benevolent Fund, the robot is able to perform remote-controlled laparoscopic — or keyhole — colorectal, renal and adrenal surgeries.
The pioneering surgeons behind the project are Prof Calvin Coffey, colorectal surgeon, Subhasis Giri, urologist surgeon, and Limerickman Dr Colin Pierce, colorectal surgeon, has recently joined the robotic surgery team.
View image on Twitter
Prof Calvin Coffey on the €2.6m Da Vinci robot: "It's like sitting in the abdomen…a truly remarkable experience."
A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said that this type of surgery is the "highest international standard of surgery worldwide" and is the most advanced type of surgery.
Leading the team, Prof Coffey, foundation chair of surgery at UL's Graduate Entry Medical School, said that, hitherto, this type of surgery has been part of the private healthcare sector.
"Now, for the first time, it is available to public patients in the Mid-West for colorectal and renal and urologic cases. The dual console will allow not one, but two surgeons to operate simultaneously, ensuring optimal decision-making and precision for each individual patient, the expertise is doubled."
So far, there have been 29 cases at UHL with "hugely encouraging results and a high level of patient satisfaction", Prof Coffey added.
Junior doctors, nurses and students, who wish to learn more about how robotic surgery is done, will soon be able to witness it in action via live broadcast. This project has received €135,000 in funding from the hospital's academic partner, University of Limerick.
Fascinating to see the first live broadcast of the Da Vinci surgical robot in action at University Hospital Limerick
Launching the project this Tuesday, UL Hospitals Group chief executive Colette Cowan said that the robotic surgery can provide "significant cost savings".
Live Stream from UL Gems Surgery on Vimeo.
Courtesy of Fintan Walsh (Limerick Leader)
UL Hospitals board chairperson, Prof Niall O'Higgins said that the robot deserves "widespread attention and celebration".
UL GEMS students visit daVinci
UL med students meet daVinci at UHL
Great to be in the news promoting robotic surgery
UL med students meet daVinci from UL Gems Surgery on Vimeo.
"HANDS ON" Introduction to Robotic Surgery Course for beginners
Ms Uzma Mahmood who completed the first Gynae robotic procedure in UL Hospitals
Congratulations to Mr. Colin Pierce
Robotics Session at ULHG Peri-Op Meeting (Oct 2018)
UL Hospitals group welcome visitors from University of Cape Coast
Dr Evelyn Asamoah Ampofo and Christiana Okantey
Rick Catterwell
Robo-surgeon with four arms is a cool hand
Robotic surgery live-streamed from Limerick hospital
Shortlisted for the Irish Healthcare Awards 2017