Phoebe Sumter Marks 1,000 Robotic Procedures

Americus, GA | October 7, 2025 – Phoebe Sumter Medical Center is marking a major milestone with the celebration of its 1,000th robotic surgery. Since the program’s launch in May 2023, the hospital’s surgeons, nurses, and leadership team have embraced robotic technology to provide more precise procedures, faster recovery times, and advanced care for patients in Americus and surrounding communities.

In just two and a half years, PSMC has completed more than 1,000 procedures using the da Vinci XI robotic surgical system. These include 384 gallbladder surgeries, 264 bariatric procedures, more than 200 hernia repairs, and 100 hiatal hernia surgeries. Robotic technology allows patients to return home sooner, experience less pain, and get back to their lives faster, while also giving surgeons improved visualization and enhanced tools to perform procedures with greater confidence.

“This milestone reflects our team’s hard work, resilience, and commitment to excellence. We knew from the very beginning that our robotic program would be transformative for our community. To reach 1,000 cases so quickly is a testament to our surgeons, nurses, and entire clinical team. They’ve trained tirelessly and committed to delivering the very best care possible for our patients right here in Sumter County,” said Carlyle Walton, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center CEO.

Jeff Sullivan, a representative from Intuitive, the company that manufactures the da Vinci robotic system, praised the Phoebe Sumter team’s success.

“Many hospitals have robotic systems, but what Phoebe Sumter is accomplishing with theirs is unique. To see more than 1,000 patients benefit from robotic surgery in such a short time, right here in a small community hospital is remarkable. This program is truly best-in-class,” Sullivan said.

PSMC General & Bariatric Surgeon, Dr. Jeremy Joyner emphasized that the success of the program would not have been possible without collaboration and buy-in from nursing leaders and staff across the hospital. He said Raney Law and Cameron Herbet, the nurse leads for the program, played a critical role in ensuring operating room efficiency.

“When you introduce a new technology, it can feel overwhelming but here, it was different. There was excitement, teamwork, and buy-in from every corner of the hospital. With the right people in the right places, it wasn’t about resistance, it was about learning and moving forward together. One of the most exciting parts for me is seeing how this new approach is improving the quality of our surgeries and even increasing our volumes,” Dr. Joyner said.

Sybil Smith, a longtime Americus resident and former City of Americus Administrator shared her positive experience after undergoing robotic gallbladder surgery. Her journey began suddenly on the evening of July 3, when she was hosting family members for the holiday weekend.

“All of a sudden, about 10 p.m., I couldn’t breathe. I had this terrible, gripping pain across my chest and the first thing I thought about was a heart attack,” she said.

Smith was quickly treated in the PSMC emergency department where physicians determined her gallbladder was full of stones. After consulting with her surgeon, Dr. Kristin Tott, she chose the robotic option.

“My husband was with me, and at the end of our meeting, we personally felt that we should go the robotic route because of the shorter recovery time,” Smith said.

Her recovery was swift. “We showed up for surgery right on time, went home the same day, had very little pain, and I was up and around doing things at the end of the week. Every bit of it went just as Dr. Tott described it would,” she said.

She also shared an unexpected outcome. “I had been dealing with vertigo and balance issues since September 2024. Doctors at Emory couldn’t find anything wrong with my ears. But after my robotic surgery, every bit of that was gone. I don’t know if they put a little extra something in the robot, but I haven’t had those problems since,” she said with a smile.

Reflecting on the experience, she expressed gratitude to the Phoebe Sumter team. “The nurses who were in the room that day, did a great job of explaining every detail to me. It was marvelous to be cared for in that way, and I’m honored to be celebrating this milestone with you all,” said Smith.

The significance of this milestone goes beyond numbers. It highlights the hospital’s commitment to keeping advanced care close to home and it also shows the positive impact on recruitment, as physicians recognize the value of working at a hospital equipped with the latest surgical technology.

“Generally speaking, patients experience lower pain and faster recovery with robotic surgery. For our bariatric patients, the data shows we’ve actually seen fewer complications, and for us as surgeons, the technology gives us more confidence because we can see things better and use more precise tools. All of that translates into better outcomes,” said Dr. Joyner

The program has grown rapidly, encompassing procedures such as hernia repairs, reflux surgeries, colon resections, and bariatric procedures.

“Bringing this technology to a smaller community hospital was a big question at first. Reaching 1,000 cases in such a short time shows how committed we are to robotics and what a difference it’s making for our patients’ lives,” said Dr. Kristin Tott, PSMC General Surgeon.

Looking ahead, the team anticipates expanding access into additional specialties, such as gynecology and urology, and anticipates that growing volumes could justify the addition of a second robotic system in the future.

“Our volumes have grown since we started because people know they can get state-of-the-art care right here at home. We’re close to the point of needing another unit,” said Dr. Joyner.

Ultimately, the milestone reflects the hospital’s mission and commitment to advanced patient care.

“We always want to improve and offer state-of-the art care, not just with surgeries, but everything from the moment you walk in the door. From getting labs, x-rays, coming to the operating room, we want to offer that next level of care and bringing the robot here, we are able to do that and provide the highest level of care so patients don’t have to leave our community to get those higher levels of care,” said Dr. Tott.

“That number just means, we’ve committed to it, so hitting that goal says, every chance we have to use the robot, for whatever surgery we’re doing, we are going to use it, because it improves our jobs, it improves patient outcomes, and it was absolutely the right investment for Phoebe Sumter,” said Dr. Joyner.