The Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center boasts many different technological advancements and robotics surgery is one that has been around since early 2000s.
The program, started by outgoing director of general surgery and chief of the robotics committee, Dr. Douglas Stoddart, has allowed the healing and recovery time benefit for not only the general surgical department in the hospital, but also OB/GYN and urology.
Although COVID-19, and medical support operations around the world  has slowed same day and none life threatening surgical services at the hospital, the teams are looking forward to starting up those surgeries put on hold.
Dr. Brian Yoon, chief bariatric surgery, CRDAMC, has worked at hospital about three years and saw the program advance to the newer robotics machines through 2020 before a deployment to Afghanistan as the chief of trauma in the Kandahar province and returning at the beginning phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 “We can keep the surgery minimally invasive, with small incisions, which leads to quicker recovery time and healing,” said Yoon. “The visualization from the robotics review platform and the stability of the instruments allows us to do more precise dissections and allows for a safer surgery.”
CRDAMC offers bariatric surgery to patients who have a body mass index of 40 or greater, or between 35-40 and they have medical problems associated with obesity like high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea or chronic pain in the joints.
CRDAMC currently has two robotic surgery systems developed by Intuitive Surgical and are routinely used by the general surgery, OB/GYN and urology departments.
All general surgeons at CRDAMC are officially certified and credentialed to perform robotic-assisted surgical procedures and  robotics surgery training is continually offered to current and new incoming surgical support staff to ensure 24/7 access to robotic surgery for patients.
Having 24/7 continuous access to the robotic surgery technology opens up improved opportunities for performing more complex surgical procedures (i.e., anti-reflux surgery, bariatric surgery, colon surgery, thoracic surgery, complex hernias).
 “One thing from the general side of surgery, that we’re very proud of, is the ability to do those emergent, acute care surgery cases on call with the robot,” said Dr. Sarah Placek, chief general surgery, CRDAMC.
A lot of effort was put into training with the operating room staff nurses, technicians and everybody, because it takes a huge team in order to provide that 24/7 access for patients, and it’s something that is not available even at some of the larger medical treatment facilities in the Army, she went on to say.    
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