Minimally invasive surgery

HCA Healthcare is a world leader in robotic surgical procedures, performing over 100,000 cases in the U.S. and United Kingdom each year. HCA Healthcare’s national Robotic Service Line includes over 135 hospitals and approximately 250 of the world’s most advanced robotic systems.

At St. David’s HealthCare, we offer access to the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery (TIRS), an innovative infrastructure helping hospitals and physicians deliver the most technologically advanced and safe robotic surgery experience. The Institute has accomplished this by developing and studying the largest robotics surgery database in the world, with data spanning every aspect from administration through robotics surgical technique.

Specifically, TIRS:

• Creates real-time data analytics based on the world’s largest integrated database for robotic surgery, incorporating quality, training, performance, cost and reimbursement data
• Provides information and proven robotic surgery strategies to its Network Hospitals
• Trains affiliated surgeons and hospital team members using the most advanced robotic technology and best practices

Our precision, skill and comprehensive data join forces to benefit you and our surgeons.

Located in Austin, TIRS works with our sister hospitals in Texas to build robotic surgery strategies and programs while adhering to the safest, most innovative and most efficient robotic surgery techniques and protocols.

Our leading-edge surgical platforms benefit our surgeons by allowing them to perform with greater precision, improved visualization and enhanced dexterity. For you, the potential benefits include reduced complication rates, shorter hospital stays and minimal scarring.

The da Vinci surgical system gives surgeons an advanced set of instruments to perform robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. Using instruments in real-time, this system delivers a highly magnified, 3D high-definition view of the surgical area, making it possible to operate through one or few small incisions.

With Mako SmartRobotics™, individuals with joint pain have an innovative solution. Using 3D computerized tomography-based software, our team of physicians can create personalized joint replacement surgical plans. Also committed to exceptional surgical outcomes, the ROSA Knee System assists surgeons with bone resections and implant positioning facilitation.

If you need specialized pulmonary procedures, our MONARCH® platform uses various technologies to give physicians greater control and vision during procedures, especially during biopsies. ­­Additionally, Ion, a platform of Intuitive, offers robotic-assisted minimally invasive biopsy options, allowing surgeons to plan, navigate and perform the procedure with integrated system data.­

Thomas Payne, MD, FACOG

— Executive Director

Dr. Payne joined HCA Healthcare in 2011 as the executive director of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery. In January 2016, Dr. Payne was named HCA Healthcare’s National Medical Director for Robotics, while retaining his position as executive director.

His work as a surgeon and educator has helped patients and surgeons worldwide in thousands of robotic gynecologic cases. His primary passions are to champion advancements in the surgical sciences and to perform, assist and teach complex robotic surgery.

Luis E. Hernandez

— Director of Operations

Luis E. Hernandez serves as the director of operations at the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery. He holds a masters of business administration in management and healthcare administration as well as a bachelor’s of science in nursing.

Beginning his career in the military, Luis developed a focus on robotic surgery, circulating as a registered nurse in hundreds of robotic cases and successfully producing predictability models for robotic inventory and operating room time management.

Luis enjoys working alongside our nurses, surgical techs and surgeon to establish and maintain the gold standard for robot-assisted surgery in our operating rooms and give patients the absolute best care possible.

Tammy Henderson

—Administrative Assistant

As the Executive Administrative Assistant for the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, Tammy Henderson performs all administrative duties for TIRS. In addition, Mrs. Henderson is the host for Robotic Case Observations and the organizer of special events at TIRS.

Mrs. Henderson started her career with HCA in 2012 with the Patient Access Department at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. She then moved over to St. David’s Surgical Hospital when it opened its doors in 2016.

Before joining HCA, Tammy was an Executive Assistant for Consolidated Freightways and Roadway Express.

Over 135 hospitals located throughout the nation provide surgery data to the HCA Robotic Service Line, including quality measures, surgical team performance, cost and reimbursement. We use this information to share best practices for delivering excellence within our facilities.

The following hospitals participate: