Eastside Medical Center Debuts New Hospital Wing

From Snellville Patch

More than 800 people attended the unveiling of the new tower at Eastside Medical Center on Jan. 17, 2013.

The tower features advanced technology that includes a hybrid operating room suite, one of only two in the state of Georgia. Three floors are currently ready for use, with an additional three floors ready for expansion should they need the space.

A large operating room for robotic surgery is among the new additions to the wing. Eastside Medical Center was the first hospital in Gwinnett to receive the da Vinci SI robot, which can perform minimally invasive surgery that reduces the risk of infection and recovery time.

During the tour, hospital staff allowed visitors to try out the process, which includes sitting behind a machine and maneuvering the “hands” of the robot (see video) while viewing a three-dimensional enhanced view of the operating area.

According to Eastside’s Dr. Peter Mann, the machine measures whether you used any extra movements and how tight of a box your hands were in. One of the benefits of robotic surgery is that it offers doctors a rare chance to actually practice before doing the surgery.

Across the hall from the robotic surgery room is a “hybrid operating room (OR)”. Only two of these exist in Georgia, with the other one at Emory Midtown. In this room, patients can be in the middle of surgery, and if they need a CT scan, it can be performed right where they are. The machine comes to the table like a robotic arm, and once the doctors are done with it, it retracts. It reduces the amount of radiation a patient is exposed to and maximizes the quality of the images, according to Dr. Takki Momin, a vascular and endovascular surgeon. 

The patient rooms are equally impressive. Spacious and equipped with beds that raise up to a full seated position, a recliner and a sofa, the rooms are designed with the patient's comfort in mind. Among other upgrades is the ability to call your nurse's cell phone from the hospital room directly, rather than going through a receptionist. 

While the hospital is only 30 years old, administrators want to make sure it keeps up with Snellville's growth and offers residents the best medical care they can receive. 

Keep up with Eastside Medical Center news by visiting their Facebook page or website. 

(Editor's note: Special thanks to nurse Dana Walters and HIM Director Wonda Askew for the tour!)