NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Robotics are helping
surgeons make great strides in the medical arena, and the advanced
technology used in robotic
prostatectomy procedures delivers many benefits to both surgeon
and patient. However, in recent news, there is some scrutiny on the
frequency of its use. Further, some critics are cautioning patients
against the mass marketing of robotic surgery and its
benefits. Dr. David Samadi, Vice Chairman, Department of Urology,
and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount
Sinai Medical Center is a prostate
cancer treatment and robotic
prostatectomy expert who agrees that in some cases the
technology is being oversold, but still firmly believes in the
benefits of robotic
surgery.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110812/NY51900)
Patient-level marketing about new technology and, specifically,
robotic surgery is on the rise. Hospitals nationwide are spending
large amounts of money to obtain the equipment for robotic
procedures and, as such, are devoting significant resources to
promoting it. While dedicated to the care and treatment of
patients, hospitals are still businesses that compete with one
another. The latest technology, more skilled surgeons, and better
facilities are all part of their marketing arsenal. A recent report
in the Journal for Healthcare Quality primarily criticized
hospitals for making too much of robotic surgery on their web
sites. The study, designed to highlight the over-marketing of
robotic surgery, accused hospitals of relying too heavily on the
positive outcome statistics provided by the robot man
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