Public Invited to Join the Festivities During a Mid-October Open House
ThedaCare will host an open house event on Thursday, Oct. 16, to highlight its first year of offering robotic surgery services in Waupaca.
The event, which is open to the public, will take place from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca, 800 Riverside Drive. It will feature light refreshments, giveaways and tours of the facility.
The highlight of the event will be demonstrations of the hospital’s da Vinci surgical robot. The robot serves as a tool, assisting surgeons as they perform complex, minimally invasive procedures.
Visitors will be able to interact with the surgical robot through a series of entertaining activities. They’ll also have the opportunity to pose questions to ThedaCare’s specially-trained surgeons and learn more about the benefits of robotic surgery as well as other services offered at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca.
Bringing Robotic Surgery to Waupaca
“One year ago, we brought the da Vinci surgical robot to Waupaca to help create the best surgical experience and outcomes for our patients,” said Jenny Derks, Vice President of ThedaCare Medical Centers-New London and Waupaca. “We believe people deserve high-level, comprehensive care wherever they live. The robot helps us as we work to provide a higher level of close-to-home care right here, in Waupaca.”
When in use during surgery, the da Vinci surgical robot remains 100% in the surgeon’s control. It translates the surgeon’s hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body.
“We operate from a nearby console, viewing a 3D image of the surgical site,” said Dr. Annie Zeug, a general surgeon practicing at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca. “The robotic arms are controlled by our careful hand and foot movements. The da Vinci system helps enhance our dexterity, allowing us to conduct more thorough movements during procedures, which can help create a better surgical experience for our patients.”
Dr. Annie Zeug
Patients may benefit because smaller incisions often mean less post-surgical pain, potentially shorter recovery times and fewer days in the hospital compared to traditional open surgery, Dr. Zeug explained. As a result, patients may return to work or their daily activities faster.
A Comprehensive Approach to Care
“Patients also receive the support of a multidisciplinary team that works with them prior to, during and after surgery,” Dr. Zeug said. “This comprehensive approach can help create a better experience and outcomes, setting our patients up for success.”
ThedaCare surgery teams and hospitals have established themselves as leaders in providing safe, quality surgical outcomes. In addition, ThedaCare serves as a hub for surgeons from around the country to learn robotic surgery techniques.
Surgeons working with ThedaCare have expertise and advanced education and training in several areas. These include trauma surgery and cancer care. Both require high-level skills and expertise, particularly when injury or illness affects more than one area of the body.
In addition to offering robotic surgery in Waupaca, ThedaCare offers robotic surgery services at its hospitals in Appleton, Berlin, Neenah and Shawano.
People interested in learning more about the surgical experience at ThedaCare are encouraged to visit the Surgery Services page at ThedaCare.org.
About ThedaCare
For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including nine hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. In 2024, ThedaCare and Froedtert Health combined to form one system to strengthen local health care and provide high-quality services for treatment and prevention in a coordinated manner.