New infusion center will open July 12
BY DANA DUGAN
New innovations in medicine are always newsworthy. That is especially true when those innovations and improvements come to relatively isolated areas like the Wood River Valley. Three new developments at St. Luke’s Wood River (SLWR) Medical Center will change the way patients receive care.
Guidance system
A new, minimally invasive surgical option, the Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System, is now available at SLWR for patients needing spine surgery. It’s used to treat broken backs, spinal deformity, spinal weakness, instability or chronic back pain.
“This is new, proven technology, but it’s not being used widely, yet,” said Joy Prudek, SLWR public relations and communications manager.
In fact, Dr. David Verst recently performed the first surgery in Idaho utilizing the state-of-the-art, robot-guided technology at SLWR. In the past four weeks, Verst performed six more spinal surgeries using the robotics guidance system.
Verst explained that there are two types of robots used in surgery. Robots can be “slave-driven,” like the DaVinci Surgical System, which does most of the work under the surgeon’s guidance. The Mazor is an assisted-robotic device.
“It’s not doing the work,” Verst said. “It guides.”
Verst explained that first a CT, or CAT, scan is conducted, and the information from the scan is fed into the computer of the robot.
“This 3D model of the patient’s spine enables preplanning for the surgery,” Verst continued. “Now, during surgery, we pair the anatomy to the computer. It takes about two minutes. This is quicker and more efficient. As time goes on, robotics will transform the world of orthopedics, especially spine treatment and surgery.”
Verst said the system is more accurate and more precise than traditional spinal surgery, which relies heavily on surgeons using their hands and memories to form a clear picture of where such elements as nerves, muscles and blood vessels lie around the spine.
“It’s particularly important for those who’ve had previous back surgery due to scar tissue,” he said.
In fact, Verst said he recommended waiting on surgery to some patients until the robot was available at SLWR.
“The way medicine has evolved, it’s all about safety and outcomes and the robot does both.”
Infusion services
St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center is completing the most major remodel of the hospital since it opened in 2000. On Tuesday, July 12, the St. Luke’s Wood River Infusion Center will open, bringing convenience and comfort to cancer (and other infusion-based) treatments. The new center will take the place of a smaller infusion room that opened at SLWR seven years ago. Successful and utilized from day one, it had space issues and, due to its proximity to the emergency room, cancer patients with immunity issues were vulnerable to infection. Oncologists from Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise were able to come only once a month.
The need for cancer treatment has grown. The number of patient visits grew 143 percent from 2010 to 2014. Approximately 100 patients a month receive cancer-related care at SLWR, with several on a weekly or bimonthly schedule of chemotherapy. Many patients make the drive to St. Luke’s Twin Falls.
On July 12, a new 1,769-foot infusion center will open on the first floor of SLWR next to the MRI department. Designed to reduce stress and promote healing, the center boasts a roomy nurses’ station and waiting area, four infusion areas, two exam rooms, and lots of natural light. Patients also will have a choice about where they want their treatment, from a semi-private to a totally private option. Dr. Dan Fairman remains the director of infusion services. As well, two oncologists – Dr. Charles Smith, with Dr. Jared Manning or Dr. Phatama Padavanija – will be available on a weekly basis.
Not limited to cancer care, the Infusion Center will also treat such ailments as rheumatoid arthritis, blood transfusions, iron therapy and antibiotic therapy, among others.
New orthopedic surgeon
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Matt Kopplin has joined St. Luke’s Sun Valley Sports Medicine, along with Dr. Alison Kinsler, who joined the practice last year. He fills the gap left by Dr. Daniel Judd, who last year returned to Hawaii with his family. Kopplin spent 14 years at the 304-bed Level II Trauma Center, at the Billings Clinic in Montana, where he was department chair of orthopedic surgery. Kopplin’s specialty is joint replacement surgery.
Making the move with him is his wife, Dr. Malie Kopplin, who’s an emergency room physician. They have three children, ages 13, 10, and 4.
“This is a small, active town that goes out there and gets hurt,” Kopplin said. “I specialize in knee and hips, especially replacement. People are trying to age well. People here are engaged in maintaining their health more than the average population. I want to help them do that.”
