Partnership with WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals has grown BMH’s general surgery team from one surgeon to three
MADISON, W.Va. – Boone Memorial Health (BMH) has completed more than 200 robotic-assisted surgeries using Intuitive’s da Vinci 5 surgical system. The team has performed 205 cases, a milestone for a surgical program that has grown through BMH’s partnership with WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals.
BMH’s three general surgeons, Charles Lucente, MD, FACS; John DeLuca, MD, FACS; and Seth Williams, MD, provide care at BMH through that partnership. Dr. Lucente serves as medical director of the BMH Surgery Department. With the addition of Dr. DeLuca and Dr. Williams, BMH went from one general surgeon to three, and from two surgical days a week to four.
BMH was among the first hospitals in West Virginia to acquire the da Vinci 5. The system supports minimally invasive procedures, and BMH’s surgeons use it for cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) and hernia repair.
The da Vinci 5 enhances the surgeon’s dexterity and view of the surgical field. During each procedure, the surgeon guides every movement of the instruments from a specially designed console and stays in control throughout the operation.
For patients, robotic-assisted surgery can mean smaller incisions, less pain and scarring, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery. The right surgical approach depends on each patient’s needs and the procedure being performed.
“Two hundred cases means two hundred patients who had their surgery in Madison instead of traveling for it,” said Stephanie McDougal, Chief Nursing Officer at Boone Memorial Health. “Our partnership with WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals brought us a surgical team our nurses and staff are proud to work alongside.”
Reaching this milestone reflects the work of BMH’s surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, surgical technologists, and support staff.
As Boone Memorial Health passes 200 robotic-assisted procedures, its focus remains on expanding access to high-quality care and bringing advanced surgical options home to the communities it serves.
To learn more about surgical services at Boone Memorial Health, visit bmh.org or call 304-369-1230
