News Releases
Charlton Memorial Hospital and 10 Surgeons Recognized for Clinical Excellence in Robotic Surgery
Southcoast Health’s Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River recently achieved accreditation from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery.
This accreditation exemplifies Southcoast Health’s commitment to high-quality patient care and safety. Status as an accredited SRC Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery means that Charlton Memorial Hospital has met nationally and internationally recognized standards of excellence in patient care
“We first started performing robotic surgery at Southcoast Health in 2008, which was a remarkable advancement to offer as a community hospital,” said Dennis LaRock, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Officer at Southcoast Health. “Since then, our program has continued to grow and advance with innovative new technologies as they become available. I am so proud of our team at Charlton Memorial Hospital for their commitment to exceptional patient care. This recognition is a testament of their dedication to our community.”
An SRC accreditation helps patients identify providers who have met rigorous standards for delivering high-quality perioperative and long-term, follow-up care and distinguish them from those who have not.
Healthcare facilities and surgeons seeking an SRC accreditation undergo an extensive assessment and inspection process to ensure the applicant meets SRC’s proven standards and requirements. These requirements include surgical volumes, facility equipment, clinical pathways and standardized operating procedures, along with an emphasis on patient education and continuous quality assessment. Inspectors educate staff in the accredited departments on best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.
“Commitment to this process has focused our team’s efforts on exceeding clinical benchmarks and guidelines,” said Tammy Gleeson, DO, Program Director Robotic Surgery at Southcoast Health. “Most importantly, this commitment to excellence will improve the health and well-being of our patients.”
In addition to this recognition, the following 10 Southcoast Health Physicians have achieved accreditation from the SRC as a Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery:
- Jorge A. Huaco Cateriano, MD, MPH
- Danilo Decio, MD, MBA
- Patrick Fei, MD
- Tammy Gleeson, DO
- Dennis R. LaRock, MD
- Joseph Lifrak, MD
- Allan S. Mabardy, MD, FACS
- John C. Mills, DO
- Christopher D. Skeehan, MD
- Jamsheed B. Vakharia, MD
To date in 2024, this team has performed 516 robotic-assisted surgical procedures. Robotic surgery is minimally invasive and allows the surgical team to make smaller cuts, with more precision during a procedure. This results in benefits for patients such as less bleeding, smaller scar areas, conservation of bone and healthy tissue and shorter recovery times depending on the individual.
“We’re proud to recognize Charlton Memorial Hospital for its commitment to advancing and providing quality care for all patients,” added Gary M. Pratt, CEO of SRC. “This accreditation signals that this facility is among the best in this specialty and is dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible.”
To learn more about robotic surgery at Southcoast Health please visit www.southcoast.org/robots/.