Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch partnered with Intuitive Surgical this week to bring a unique opportunity for local students and community partners – as well as doctors, hospital staff and board members – to learn about the advanced robotic technology that is making new strides in the early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
The interactive Thoracic Oncology Mobile Experience Truck, an 18-wheel, 80,000-pound roving laboratory that enables Intuitive to bring their advanced robotic systems and instruments to hospitals across the country, traveled to Long Branch for a two-day event, held Oct. 15-16.
Attendees were able to experience firsthand the capabilities of the Ion and da Vinci robotic surgical systems and learn how this new technology could lead to improved patient outcomes.
The Oct. 16 sessions focused on engaging local students from the Long Branch and Tinton Falls communities who have an interest in STEM as well as a future career in the healthcare field. Additionally, the students, many of whom are a part of the Biomed Program at Long Branch Middle School and Long Branch Middle School Medical Detectives Program, were provided a demonstration and skills training for Hands-Only CPR, a simple to learn and easy to remember effective technique involving only hand compressions without mouth-to-mouth breaths.
Monmouth Medical Center was the second in New Jersey and the first in central and southern New Jersey to introduce Ion, a robot-assisted platform designed to enable minimally invasive lung biopsies that may become a key part of early diagnosis. The hospital is nearing the milestone of its 200th Ion case and continues to expand the advanced capabilities of its thoracic oncology program to reach more patients.
“We are proud to be able to introduce these amazing new technologies locally as a part of our commitment to delivering the highest level of thoracic care to our patients,” Monmouth Medical Center CEO Eric Carney said. “In pioneering these firsts, our team has a singular focus – that is on increasing survival and quality of life for patients with lung cancer.”
The TOME Truck also featured presentations from Monmouth Medical Center’s Thoracic Oncology Team led by:
Dr. Richard Lazzaro, Chief of Thoracic Surgery for the RWJBarnabas Health, Southern Region;
Dr. Neil Ninan, Medical Director, Pulmonology, RWJBarnabas Health, Southern Region;
Thoracic surgeons Ashley McCormack, Benjamin Medina and Joseph Whitlark.
In addition to the local students, the TOME Truck hosted sessions for hospital management, local community partners, and doctors and surgeons. Monmouth Medical Center is committed to
engaging the local community and providing education and resources about cancer screening and treatment to improve patient outcomes.
“Approximately three times more women in the U.S. die from lung cancer than from breast cancer and more than three times as many men as prostate cancer,” Lazzaro said “Early detection through quick and painless low dose CT scans of high-risk individuals reduces their chance of death by up to 20 percent.
“As we approach November, which is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, let’s move the needle with lung cancer screening, through the use of the most advanced technologies to screen, detect, diagnose and treat these patients.”
