AJ, a representative from Intuitive, provides guidance to Ashley Potocnik as she tests the da Vinci 5 Console. The demonstration took place during the annual Golf and Giving fundraiser on May 2, showcasing the system's intuitive controls that mimic human hand and wrist motion, an advantage over standard laparoscopic tools.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - With swings, putts and purpose, the 34th Annual Golf and Giving Tournament brought the Yuba-Sutter community together May 2 at Peach Tree Golf and Country Club, all in the name of cutting-edge healthcare. This year’s event raised crucial funds to bring a long-awaited da Vinci 5 surgical robot to Adventist Health and Rideout, making it the latest regional hospital to adopt the future of minimally invasive surgery.

Hosted by the Rideout Foundation, the annual fundraiser spotlighted not just camaraderie on the course, but a shared commitment to expanding surgical services throughout the Yuba-Sutter region. Attendees even had the rare chance to operate the da Vinci 5 robot themselves, guided by a representative from Intuitive, the company behind the revolutionary technology.

“We’re the only regional hospital in our area that doesn’t yet have this type of robotic-assisted surgical capability,” said President of the Rideout Foundation Patience Boudreaux. “Surgeons are trained on these systems now, and without one, we’re often forced to refer patients to hospitals an hour or more away. This is about keeping our care local and advancing it.”

A close-up of the da Vinci 5 system reveals its articulated wrist joints in action, skillfully maneuvering rubber bands in a training model. This demonstration during the Adventist Health and Rideout Foundation’s annual Golf Tournament illustrates the robot’s superior dexterity, designed to replicate the natural movements of the human hand for more intuitive, less invasive surgery.

While Adventist Health and Rideout does offer laparoscopic procedures and some robotic assisted orthopedic surgery, the capabilities of the da Vinci 5 would bring the hospital's capabilities to the next level. Surgical robots take about a decade to develop, and with this one being released just last year, it is the latest in innovative surgical technology.

“I don’t need surgery yet, but when or if I do, I want it to be with a surgical robot like this,” added Boudreaux.

Robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci 5 offers numerous advantages: greater precision, smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, faster recovery times, and enhanced visualization for surgeons. The system also collects performance data that can be used to customize surgical planning and training, a game-changer in improving long-term outcomes.

The da Vinci 5 surgical robot features four independently controlled arms, shown here outside Peach Tree Golf and Country Club during the May 2 demonstration. These robotic “limbs” allow for simultaneous camera control and multi-instrument procedures, expanding surgical capabilities beyond what the human hand can do alone.

The hospital’s administrative team believes that adding the da Vinci 5 to Adventist Health and Rideout’s surgical suite would broaden available services in high-need specialties such as urology, gynecology, and bariatrics. It could also help recruit top medical talent to the region by providing them with the tools they are trained to use.

“This technology empowers both physicians and patients,” Boudreaux said. “It’s not just about having the latest equipment; it’s about making sure the people of Yuba-Sutter have access to the highest standard of care without having to leave home.”

Ashley Potocnik, Development Liaison for Yuba City, experiences the controls of the da Vinci 5 surgical robot during the Adventist Health and Rideout Foundation’s annual Golf Tournament on May 2, at Peach Tree Golf and Country Club in Marysville. The immersive console allows surgeons to manipulate instruments with exacting precision, translating hand movements into real-time action inside the patient.

The golf tournament, now a cherished community tradition, served as both a fundraiser and an educational event. Golfers and guests who stepped up to test-drive the da Vinci 5 system got a first-hand look at how intuitive, and powerful, robotic surgery has become.

“It's very cool to see,” said Jeff Ford, an attendee at Friday’s golfing event. “You could really get sucked into that thing.”

To learn more about the da Vinci 5 system visit intuitive.com. For information on how to support the Rideout Foundation’s robotic surgery campaign, visit Adventist Health Rideout Foundation.