St. Francis Health Announces New Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery
June 30, 2025
Monroe, LA - St. Francis Health is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of the Intuitive da Vinci 5 surgical system, an advanced technology used in minimally invasive care. This platform was designed to transform surgery to enable better outcomes, efficiency, and actionable insights.
"We are pleased to offer the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system and are especially proud to be the first hospital in Northeast Louisiana to provide this advanced robotic technology," said Thomas Gullatt, MD, President of St. Francis Health. "With the expertise of our surgeons and surgical team, patients will benefit from the highest standard of surgical care available close to home. St. Francis remains dedicated to providing our region with medical innovation, ensuring access to high-quality, excellent patient care."
The da Vinci 5 system can be used for minimally invasive surgical procedures for urology, gynecology, thoracic, and general surgeries. With more than 150 new design innovations, the system expands upon core da Vinci system features, including 3DHD visualization, wristed instruments, intuitive motion, force feedback technology and an ergonomic design. Designed to blend seamlessly into program workflows, the robotic-assisted system mimics the movements of the surgeon, translating their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements during a surgical procedure.
Yesterday, this exciting new technology was unveiled at St. Francis Medical Center. Hands-on demonstrations were facilitated for local media, team members and members of the community. Hospital surgeons were on site to discuss the advanced capabilities of the future-forward platform.
"I’m excited to have access to this advanced level of robotic surgical technology. Although I'm performing the surgery, this robotic technology allows me to see and move in three dimensions, helping with my ability to perform delicate operations with great precision. Incisions are much smaller than traditional surgery which helps avoid many complications and speeds my patients' recovery time," said Dr. Bart Liles, General Surgeon, and Department Chair of Surgery for St. Francis.
For the latest in innovative surgical technology, look no further than St. Francis. St. Francis Medical Center is accredited by Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery which recognizes its ongoing commitment and high standard of delivery of quality patient care and safety in the field of robotic surgery. The medical center has proudly held this accreditation since 2021, showcasing years of dedication to bringing advanced, minimally invasive surgical options to Northeast Louisiana.
To learn more about excellence and innovation at St. Francis, please visit stfran.com/excellence.
About St. Francis Health
St. Francis Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Monroe, Louisiana, with more than 1,800 team members committed to caring for those we serve. With a 321-bed medical center, acute-care hospital, freestanding outpatient center, over 25 outpatient clinics, and nearly 350 physician partners, for more than 110 years, St. Francis has provided comprehensive healthcare services for a variety of medical and surgical specialties. St. Francis offers Northeast Louisiana’s only Level III NICU, Level III OB, OB-ED, and Level II PICU services. St. Francis Medical Center leads the region in heart and vascular services, critical care, and complex and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The hospital offers a designated Level III Trauma Center, a Graduate Medical Education Program, Accredited Chest Pain Center, Accredited Primary Stroke Center and Centers of Excellence in the areas of bariatric surgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive gynecology, breast health and specialized anesthesia. St. Francis is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit stfran.com.