Mt. Vernon Register-News
August 28, 2006
SMGSI lands $100,000 for robo-medicine
By Ryan Ijames

MT. VERNON - St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital is taking a step into the robotic world

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) was at the hospital Friday to announce $100,000 in federal funding has been awarded to St. Mary's Good Samaritan to purchase robotic surgical equipment.

"We want to make sure the people who need the best care can get it right here at home," Durbin said. "This is a down-payment for new technology. It's the beginning of a commitment to focus on downstate communities."

The new equipment is the first of its kind in Southern Illinois and is expected to reduce patients' pain, risk of infection and hospital stays and allow for faster recovery. The technology will be used for urology, cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery and gynecology.

In addition to the funding, which was part of a senate appropriations bill, the senator also spoke on the plight of the health care field.

"It's a struggle for these hospitals to maintain quality care with the resources they have," Durbin said.

He also focused on the shortage of nurses in the country and along with fellow senator John Warner, is initiating a program that would get military nurses returning from duty to get into the nurse teaching field.

"Nursing is the most honored health care profession," Durbin said, noting that in 15 years, the medical field will be understaffed by 1 million nurses.

The reason, he said, is not a lack of potential nurses, but the lack of instructors.

"Last year, 1,900 qualified nursing applicants were turned down because there were not enough professors or teachers," he said.

He said the initiative, part of the Troops to Teachers program, would give financial aid to those military nurses who are willing to attend schools to get teacher certification.

Durbin also spoke on the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency not to declare Jefferson County a federal disaster area.

"We were disappointed," Durbin said.

He said he will continue to work with local and government to appeal the decision, which must be done in 30 days.

"We're going to support efforts to make that appeal," he said.

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