Saint Joseph Health Debuts New High-Tech Surgical Robot

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2025) – Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East are the first hospitals in Lexington to offer the latest advancement in surgical technology. The hospitals received the new da Vinci 5 surgical robots this month. This state-of-the-art system represents a significant leap forward in minimally invasive surgery.

“As CommonSpirit continues to make investments in Kentucky, we are thrilled to be the first in Lexington to offer this latest technology in minimally invasive surgery,” said Matt Grimshaw, MBA, president, Saint Joseph Health / CommonSpirit Kentucky. “While our surgeons have been using robotic-assisted surgery for some time, the advanced capabilities offered by the DV5 is a game changer for our surgeons and our patients.”

The da Vinci 5 (DV5) is designed to enhance surgeon precision with the goal of improving patient outcomes. More than 150 new enhancements have been developed to support surgeon autonomy and care team efficiency. Intuitive, the maker of da Vinci surgical robots, calls the DV5 “the most advanced and integrated platform we’ve ever created—designed to enable better outcomes, efficiency and insights for the future of minimally invasive care.”

This system enables surgeons to feel more and see more during procedures with a next-generation 3D display and image processing. The da Vinci 5 provides new surgeon controllers, making their movements smoother and more precise. In addition, the new system has innovative features that help streamline surgeon and care team workflow with an optimized user interface.

“The DV5 will elevate the entire OR,” said David Swedler, DO, director of bariatric surgery at Saint Joseph East. “The newest tech updates, which are upgrading an already excellent robotic machine in the previous version, give the surgeon even more feedback at the console. Better visualization, haptic feedback and several new software updates ensure we are delivering the best possible surgery for our patients in 2025.”

Rebecca Douglass, DO, a general surgeon at Saint Joseph Hospital, agrees.

“The da Vinci 5 robotic system represents a major leap forward in minimally invasive surgery. Having performed robotic procedures for more than nine years using the da Vinci Si, X and Xi systems, I can say the DV5 offers truly transformative advancements for both surgeons and patients,” she said. “The system is designed to enhance a surgeon’s senses, combining touch, vision and data to enable even greater precision and control in the operating room. I’m proud to work at an institution that invests in leading-edge technology like the da Vinci 5 to help us provide the best possible care for our patients.”

To learn more about robotic surgery at Saint Joseph Health, visit commonspirit.org/saintjosephhealth.

About Saint Joseph Health
Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory care center. The hospitals in Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services to build a healthier future for all. Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph Hospital
Saint Joseph Hospital is a 433-bed hospital located in Lexington, Kentucky. Established in 1877 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky, the facility serves residents of central and eastern Kentucky and is a nationally recognized tertiary medical center. Saint Joseph Hospital is Lexington’s first hospital. The hospital’s original mission was to provide compassionate care to the poor and underserved, a tradition still carried out today.

About Saint Joseph East
Saint Joseph East is a 217-bed full-service community hospital located in the southeastern section of Lexington, Kentucky. Established in 1983, the facility serves residents of central and eastern Kentucky. At Saint Joseph East, ambulatory surgery, 24-hour emergency care and women’s health services are supported through a vast array of inpatient and outpatient programs.