Seattle surgeon John Tschirhart flew into Fresno to observe Dr. Babak Eghbalieh remove a gall bladder via a tiny incision in the belly button using Community Regional Medical Center’s new dual console da Vinci^® Si HD robotic system.

Clovis Community Medical Center's first robotic surgery — a hysterectomy for patient Terri Garcia — was performed by surgeon Kelli Beingesser in the hospital's brand new, state-of-the-art surgical suite specifically designed to house the da Vinci^® robot. This dedicated operating room is one of the hospital's inpatient operating suites which recently opened as part of the $300 million Clovis Community expansion.

Collaboration and expertise are key to developing a bariatric surgery program that tops the state in volumes, low costs – and year after year earns top 5-star ratings.

For a fourth consecutive year, Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital has received HealthGrades^® Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award, placing it among the top 5% nationwide for the weight-loss procedure.

Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital bariatric surgeon Saber Ghiassi led a study through Stanford University that found morbidly obese patients who had gastric bypass surgery were able to significantly reduce their medications for hypertension and diabetes at a year after surgery – which led to a big drop in health care costs. Forty-year-old Paul Ferguson of Fresno’s story serves as an example of real results. He lost more than 200 pounds through gastric bypass surgery more than a year ago, and no longer needs his medications for diabetes and hypertension. 

After more than a year of studying the safety and effectiveness of elective angioplasties in hospitals without open heart surgery, Clovis Community Medical Center is seeing some amazing and comforting results.

Q. Will I need to have Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after my hysterectomy?

A. It depends on your age and ovarian status. After a hysterectomy, most women take hormones until their early fifties, but the number drops to about 10% after that. The decision for or against HRT is an individual one, and your surgeon will help you make that choice.

There are a variety of surgical techniques for hysterectomy surgeries including minimally invasive techniques and traditional surgery. Talk to your doctor to find out if minimally invasive hysterectomy surgery is right for you.

Minimally Invasive Techniques

Kelli Beingesser, MD