Morristown Medical Center is a private, non-profit community hospital. The campus includes the main hospital, the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, the Gagnon Heart Hospital, and the Goryeb Children’s Hospital, currently totaling 629 beds. The hospital is a Level I Regional Trauma Center, and it is recipient of the prestigious Magnet Nursing Award six times in a row. Over 1,100 doctors and 1,400 nurses are on staff. Many of these physicians trained at top university programs, and many are sub-specialty trained.
Morristown Medical Center is devoted to minimally invasive & robotic surgery in plant, personnel and philosophy. Four of its twenty operating rooms are outfitted specifically for laparoscopic surgery, including boom-mounted video monitors, energy sources and gas insufflation devices. A cluster of nurses within the operating room are specifically trained in robotics and they serve as a model for other institutions developing their robotic programs. There is a Minimally Invasive Surgery Ward dedicated to the postoperative care of patients undergoing such procedures. Other ancillary services are equally dedicated to the performance and facilitation of minimally invasive techniques (eg, the Interventional Lab in the Department of Radiology). Three rooms are dedicated to robotic surgery, including two Si robots and one Xi robot. We’ve performed over 4,500 robotic cases at MMC, and we remain one of the busiest robotic programs in the New York Metro area.
The Men’s Urologic Cancer Center:
The Carol G. Simon Cancer Center is a wonderful asset, filled with a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and para-medical personnel. They are all geared to the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of cancer. Select urologic cancer cases are routinely presented at urologic tumor board. MMC participates in the State Cancer Registry. In addition to standard treatment methods, the CGSCC has partnered with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey to provide nationally approved research protocols for patients who qualify.
Robotic Credentialing at MMC:
Surgeons credentialed in robotic surgery at Morristown Medical Center must have full privileges at MMC, prior laparoscopic training, and demonstrate proficiency in robotic surgical technique. Prior to being granted full robotic privileges, candidate surgeons at MMH are observed in the operating room, and their case statistics (ie, indications for surgery, operative times, peri-operative complications, pathology results, etc) are reviewed by an independent review board. This is to ascertain that these surgeons are performing robotic surgery within nationally accepted standards for safety and efficacy.
daVinci Prostatectomy Safety Policies at MMC:
As Director of Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery, Dr. Kaynan has instituted several policies at MMC to enhance the safety of daVinci Prostatectomy for patients having this procedure. Most institutions do not require these safety measures of their surgeons
- Patients undergo preoperative cystoscopy (look in the bladder) in order to identify the internal architecture of the prostate gland and location of the ureters relative to the bladder neck – knowledge of the location of the ureters prior to surgery may help prevent their injury.
- Patients receive Indigo Carmine intravenously during surgery to assist with identification of the ureters during reconstruction of the urinary tract, again to help prevent injury to the ureters.
- Patients undergo a bowel prep the day before surgery such that in the unlikely event of an injury to the rectum or bowels, the injury may be repaired immediately and safely.
- Patients undergo a rectal insufflation test after the prostate has been removed (while still under anesthesia), even if no injury is suspected, in order to verify that the rectum is intact prior to exiting the operating room. An occult injury, if missed, can have tragic consequences; whereas proper repair of this unlikely problem is usually simple and typically without consequence.
