FOLEY — Medical innovation has made its way into Baldwin County as South Baldwin Regional Medical Center has launched its DaVinci Robotic Surgery program.

It’s a technology that allows surgeons to use robotics to perform procedures in the operating room. And OBGYN Dr. deLacee Corbett performed her first operation with the system at South Baldwin a mere two weeks ago.

The outcome?

“It was fantastic,” she said in an interview at the Foley hospital. “It was amazing.”

What impressed Corbett was the apparent benefit to the patient who had a hysterectomy, as well as three subsequent patients also having the same operation.

“The patients have significantly less pain,” the physician said.

That’s because the robotic system allows for a smaller incision to be made, which also means patients can be brought back to consciousness sooner after surgery.

“Not as many narcotics are needed to manage the pain,” Corbett said.

South Baldwin RMC CEO Keith Newton added that the most advantageous benefit of the system is that it allows for a faster healing pace following an operation.

“Which is what our patients are looking for,” he said.

Newton gave an example of the typical hysterectomy patient, who could return to normal daily activity within two or three weeks of an operation, compared to the four to six weeks of recovery needed following a traditional procedure.

“Plus, there’s less scarring,” the hospital CEO said.

Robotic surgery is not new along the Gulf Coast.

“They’ve been doing it in Mobile and Pensacola (, Fla.),” Corbett said.

However, the procedure had not been available in Baldwin County. But Newton said that South Baldwin RMC invested some seven figures to bring the technology to Foley.

“It’s the latest in terms of technology,” he said. “We felt like we need it here.”

What’s so different about robotic surgery is that it enables a doctor to sit at a console, look through a viewfinder at a three-dimensional image and use both hand and feet controls to manipulate surgical instruments that are connected to robotic arms.

According to Corbett, the system reduces the margin of error.

“When you pull your head from the viewfinder, the controls don’t work,” she said. “So you can’t accidentally move an instrument.”

Plus, Corbett said, the system actually helps to reduce surgeon fatigue.

“You’re sitting down, so you’re not standing up in the same position for hours,” she said.

Named for renowned 15th century artist and inventor Leonardo DaVinci, the DaVinci Robotic Surgery program is inspired by his 1495 robotic design rendered during his study of anatomy. The modern-day need for such a device was developed by the military.

“They were looking for a way to do surgery remotely,” Corbett said.

That did not pan out, but the idea was tweaked into what it became.

“It’s really a three-tiered system,” Corbett said, explaining that the system includes the surgeon’s console, robotic arm apparatus and a power-supply panel.

Corbett took part in specific training to be able to use the robotic system. But she explained that for current medical students, it’s standard study.

Right now, Corbett, a Women’s Care specialist, is the only surgeon at South Baldwin RMC using the robotic system. However, Newton said that will quickly change.

“We’re getting ready to announce our robotic surgery team soon,” he said.

The system is already being put to use, with approximately a dozen surgeries using the system have been scheduled at press time.

With that, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center is now part of the Robotics Institute of Alabama.

“What that allows us to do is be part of a network of hospitals to offer education in the implementation of robotic surgery,” Newton said.

Overall, the CEO is pleased with the way the program is starting off.

“We are very fortunate,” Newton said.

“I’m glad we’re the first hospital in Baldwin County to offer this technology,” Corbett added.