HIGH FIVE Pascack Valley Medical Center explains to patients that robots aren't actually performing the surgeries, they're simply helping surgeons do better surgeries.
If you've invested in robots, you might as well let everyone know that your facility offers the most advanced surgical technology. Our hospital, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, N.J., has done a terrific job marketing our robotic system. Our campaign includes a website, WeGotBots.com, that positions robots as "your surgeon's new best friend," and social and print media that reads: "At Pascack Valley, We've Got the Bots."
American healthcare is big business, a big part of which is marketing. Differentiating yourself in an increasingly crowded and competitive market is crucial. "Minimally invasive" already resonates positively with the population, and now manufacturers and medical centers alike are marketing robot-assisted surgery to consumers.
We've been using robots to assist with surgeries for 20 years, and we've had an excellent experience with them. They help me perform safer, more accurate surgeries. We've seen improvements in care — more efficient OR times, shorter lengths of stay, quicker recoveries, lowered risks of infection, less pain, less blood loss, less scarring and other trauma, the list goes on. Getting better outcomes adds up to significant cost reductions over time. And obviously, the more patients you care for with the robot, the faster you'll make back the initial outlay.
