Freeman Welcomes New Robotic Urology Surgeon

Joplin, MO – Freeman Health System Freeman welcomes urologist Dr. David Anderson. Dr. Anderson has completed more than a thousand cases using robotics for patients with prostate cancer (although he also treats other urologic diseases and conditions) and says robotics transforms the practice for patients and doctors.

“It used to be three to four days in the hospital for surgery, then another two to three weeks with a catheter, and up to six weeks for the total recovery,” says Dr. Anderson. “Now (with the robot) it is a two-hour operation, a patient stays overnight, and they have a catheter for seven days after that. They are back to work or life in three weeks time.”

Dr. Anderson will utilize Freeman’s DaVinci Xi robot, which is a tool used for urological, gynecological, thoracic and general surgeries. The DaVinci system not only allows for quicker recovery for patients but also better outcomes, less pain, less narcotics usage, fewer complications and smaller incisions. The less invasive surgery is physically easier for both patient and doctor with better internal visualization of the patient’s anatomy for the surgeon through high-definition 3-D imaging.

“It’s kind of amazing,” says Dr. Anderson. “I can see things better. It has the ability to see in 10 power magnification. I can see it at higher depths than the naked eye. I can move the instruments in different locations than I could otherwise, and it’s much more accurate. So, the ability to take an instrument that’s as big as my hand and have the robotic be something about a centimeter in size and have that do the dissection is much more precise and much more accurate. I’m excited to bring real state-of-the-art surgery, with technology and advances, to this health system and excited to get started and help patients.”

Dr. Anderson says long-term outcomes with robotics are vastly better than open surgery.

“The biggest advantage is obviously the precision and accuracy of the operation,” Dr. Anderson says. “This is still a cancer operation which can be incredibly scary to patients. On top of that, the surgeon needs to maintain the patient’s functionality.  So, patients need to be able to maintain their urinary control and maintain their erectile function, and this robot enables both of those to be done so much better.”

Referrals are required. For more information about Dr. David Anderson, contact the Freeman Urologic Associates at 417.347.3703.

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About Freeman Health System

Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2020, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2020. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 80 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.