Founded in 2003 as an advanced surgical hospital, USMD Hospital at Arlington (Texas) has established a strong reputation for embracing innovation to elevate patient care. As an early adopter of surgical robotics, the hospital has consistently expanded and enhanced its robotics program over the years. Most recently, USMD Arlington invested in Intuitive’s da Vinci Single Port (SP) system and the da Vinci 5 (DV5), further strengthening its commitment to delivering high-quality surgical outcomes.
To explore how USMD Arlington has built and sustained a successful robotics program, Becker’s Healthcare spoke with three of the hospital’s leaders: Kathy Early, MSN, RN, CEO and chief nursing officer; Harrison Abrahams, MD, urologist; and Jackie McDaniel, vice president of business development.
More robots, more capabilities
Since first deploying their first robotic system in 2003, USMD Arlington has continued to expand its investments in robotic technology. Most recently, the hospital added both the da Vinci SP and the dV5 systems, becoming one of the first hospitals in the country to implement both technologies simultaneously.
“We knew we were unique in the sense that not very many hospitals or facilities were going to obtain both at the same time — but because it was the right technology for our patients, our surgeons, and our hospital strategy, we went ahead,” Ms. Early said.
Dr. Abrahams described the da Vinci SP as a paradigm shift in robotic surgery. It is designed to enable single-incision or natural orifice surgery. For patients, this often results in less pain and same-day discharge.
“This Single Port is miraculous,” Dr. Abrahams said. “You see patients in the recovery room who don’t look like they even had surgery.”
Da Vinci 5 is the newest robotic surgery platform from Intuitive. For surgeons, da Vinci 5 provides real-time feedback on the forces applied to tissue during surgery, providing a sense of touch to robotic surgeons for the first time. “The system can give you information that makes you a better surgeon,” Dr. Abrahams said. This technology helps surgeons operate more efficiently, allows patients to spend less time under anesthesia and supports a smoother recovery.
Ms. Early highlighted her excitement about the growth these platforms are helping to drive in general surgery, bariatrics, gynecology, colorectal, urology and more.
Dr. Abrahams noted that because patients who have surgery with the da Vinci SP go home so quickly, the technology opens up block time and resources that can be dedicated to other patients. “We have a limited number of beds,” he said. “The SP platform allows us to have maybe three or four less inpatients. Those beds can be dedicated to other specialties that may have patients who need to stay a few nights.”
Delivering ROI on multiple dimensions
While USMD Arlington’s investment decisions are influenced by many factors, due to the significant cost of major technology systems, finances and ROI are key considerations.
The hospital has seen that about 85% of patients with da Vinci SP surgeries go home the same day. This shorter length of stay reduces costs about $2,000 per patient.
The investment in the da Vinci SP and DV5 is also yielding returns on increased volume. In the first quarter of 2025, general surgery volume increased by 54% compared to the previous year and urology volume increased by 8%.
These financial measures are just one part of how USMD Arlington evaluates the impact of its investments in robotic surgery. The organization’s commitment to innovation has also strengthened its reputation and helped attract top talent, leading to the recruitment of eight new surgeons in the past eight months.
“Surgeons are coming to USMD Hospital at Arlington because they know that we provide access to this technology,” Ms. McDaniel said. “Physicians have looked at us as being ahead of the curve and ready to do the things we need to do to take care of patients in a safe and effective way.”
Intensive preparation fuels rapid ramp-up
When USMD Arlington learns of new technologies that could enhance patient care, the organization takes a thorough, rigorous approach to evaluating them.
“The whole process of looking at the DV5 and SP started many years before the actual purchase,” Dr. Abrahams said, noting the assessment phase includes reviewing videos, attending courses and participating in training programs. “That’s all before we even decide if we’re going to utilize a technology for a human patient.”
USMD Arlington diligently evaluated whether the technology aligned with the organization’s robotics strategy and overall robotic program. The team also carefully modeled projected case volumes to ensure there would be sufficient demand to support the investment financially. They also capitalized on the acquisition of da Vinci 5 and SP simultaneously to optimize access and maximize their return on investment. To do this, they shifted a portion of their existing urology volume to the SP system, freeing up additional capacity on USMD’s existing da Vinci fleet and the new da Vinci 5 system.
This rigorous, upfront assessment and modeling paid off: Once USMD Arlington officially adopted the da Vinci SP and DV5, the roll-out proceeded quickly. The hospital completed more than 168 procedures using the da Vinci SP in the first two quarters after launch, and its da Vinci surgical volume increased by 41% compared to the previous year.
“It became sort of a self-building program, because we saw very early — in the first dozen cases — how well the patients do,” Dr. Abrahams said. “I feel like the program built itself once we got over that initial learning curve.”
USMD Arlington’s innovative vision and surgeon-driven strategy
As a modern, patient-centered and physician-led hospital, USMD Arlington places a strong emphasis on patient outcomes and quality of life. The hospital’s vision is to maintain a smaller, more personalized environment that combines attentive service with advanced technology. Reflecting this approach, five of USMD Arlington’s eight operating rooms are equipped with da Vinci robotic systems, supporting a range of minimally invasive procedures typically found in larger institutions.
“We want patients to feel like they’re at a special place,” Ms. McDaniel said. “We’re smaller than your community hospital, we’re easier to navigate, but we have this very advanced technology.”
Dr. Abrahams explained that USMD Arlington has aimed to be “ahead of the curve” in technology innovation since its inception. The hospital was one of the first in the region to leverage da Vinci robotic surgery, “well before most places had even heard about it, much less thought about getting the technology,” he said.
As a physician-owned hospital, leaders at USMD Arlington recognize that the success of their strategy, mission and vision ultimately depends on physician engagement.
“We believe physicians are a key driver of our hospital’s strategy,” Ms. Early said, adding that physicians also play a central role in guiding investment decisions, identifying what tools and technologies they need to care for patients and support ongoing growth. “We listen to our physicians and take pride in being able to provide access to the technology they need to take care of the patients they serve.”
Lessons from USMD Arlington’s robotics journey
With more than two decades of experience in robotic surgery and over 20,000 procedures performed, USMD Arlington has gained valuable insights that can benefit other organizations looking to start or expand their own robotics programs. These lessons include:
- Be responsive to patients. Patients are increasingly researching their surgical options and taking a more active role in decisions about their care. Many are also seeking providers who leverage advanced technology to achieve the best possible outcomes. “Patients are going to see this [robotic surgery] and want the best for themselves if they need surgery,” Dr. Abrahams said.
- Make a commitment to robotics. “Just invest in the technology,” Ms. Early said. “We are a small hospital. We have eight ORs and five ORs have robots in them. That tells you how much we believe in the value.”
- Engage with Intuitive. This includes training and education, modeling and finances. “Having a strong partnership with Intuitive has been wonderful,” Ms. Early said. “They offer seminars, training and education for the physicians and staff to learn how to be more efficient, how to process things better, how to restructure our ORs. All that brings so much value.”
Reflecting on the broader impact of investing in robotics, Ms. Early emphasized how these decisions have shaped the hospital’s growth and reputation: “It is a big investment, but we understand that technology offers so many advantages for both our patients and surgeons on the medical staff. Being able to invest in this type of advanced technology and have the physicians to support it is something we are very proud of, ” she said.
