LessTIR begins duties in The Whit surgical unit

LessTIR began work at Whitfield Regional Hospital Friday, the star of four medical procedures conducted that day by Dr. Quince Gibson and his surgical team.

LessTIR (pronounced Lester) is da Vinci Xi, the robot-assisted surgery device manufactured by Intuitive. Its name stands for Less Time, Less Invasive, Less Risk.

The unit is designed for surgeries in the abdomen and chest such as gall bladder, hernias, colon and gynecology. Instead of a large incision, the patient has four tiny incisions which will enable him to recover more quickly.

Dr. Gibson is not new to the da Vinci. He has used it to assist him in surgery for more than five years before coming to The Whit from the UAB hospital. The Whit’s surgical staff spent many hours completing the “Intuitive Learning” robotic academy of national certification and standards in robotic use.

The da Vinci has its own sterilization room for all components. The staff also received certification in instrument sterilization with “Steris University”. 

While Dr. Gibson initially will be the only surgeon stationed at WRH qualified to use the da Vinci unit, other surgeons from UAB will have access to it. In addition, it is expected draw qualified physicians from the area to perform surgeries at the hospital.

To celebrate LessTIR’s first day on the job, all hospital employees work special t-shirts marking the event.