Robotic Surgery

Center of Excellence

Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) is the first hospital in Georgia to receive accreditation as a Center of Excellence in the following areas:

  • Robotic Surgery
  • Hernia Surgery
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Gynecology

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an internationally recognized patient safety organization, recognized NGMC for its dedication to delivering safe, effective and evidence-based patient care in these designated areas through its independent, external process of evaluation. 

At Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), we’ve helped more than 25,000 patients get back to their lives with the help of robotic surgery, which often leads to a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less pain.

Robotics is a highly-technical method of performing surgery using only a few small incisions, or keyholes similar to those used in laparoscopic cases, as ports for instruments that allow access to the heart, lungs and abdomen, while at the same time fine-tuning the technical skills of the surgeon. This surgery is performed in a three-dimensional (3D) image compared to the two dimensions of laparoscopic surgery.

The use of the da Vinci Surgical System®* for a patient’s procedure rather than an open incision procedure can mean a shorter length of stay for the patient, a quicker return to normal activities, significantly less pain, less complications, less blood loss and less scarring.

Robotic instrumentation works by mimicking the motions and movements of the surgeon’s hands and fingers in a highly magnified 3D environment.

Types of Robotic Surgery

Like all new technology, robotic surgery is not appropriate for all patients. Talk with your doctor to determine if you are a candidate. 

In 2020, NGMC made history as the first hospital in Georgia to receive accreditation as a Center of Excellence in both Robotic Surgery and Hernia Surgery. Later that year, NGMC received Center of Excellence accreditation in three additional areas: Colorectal Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Minimally Invasive Gynecology.

Robotic Surgeons at NGMC

Bariatric surgeons
Bowel & Colorectal surgeons

Fernando Aycinena, MD* 
Longstreet Clinic
*Certified and fellowship trained in colon and rectal surgery

Geary Bush, MD 
Longstreet Clinic

Chad Copper, MD 
Longstreet Clinic
*Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative participant

Ronald Lewis, MD 
Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Surgical Associates
*Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative participant

Daniel Mullis, MD 
Longstreet Clinic

Alex Nguyen, MD 
Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Surgical Associates

Heart & thoracic surgeons
General surgeons
Gynecologic surgeons
Gynecologic Oncology surgeons
Urological surgeons

Additional information

About the da Vinci Surgical System

The da Vinci Surgical System is a tool that utilizes advanced, robotic, computer and optical technologies to assist your surgeon with your operation. It does not act on its own and its movements are controlled by your surgeon.

The da Vinci Surgical System has a 3D high definition (3D-HD) vision system, special instruments and computer software that allow your surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. The 3D-HD image is highly magnified, so your surgeon has a close-up view of the area he or she is operating on.

The da Vinci instruments have mechanical wrists that bend and rotate to mimic the movements of the human wrist – allowing your surgeon to make small, precise movements inside your body.

And, da Vinci software can minimize the effects of a surgeon’s hand tremors on instrument movements.