Physicians named Surgeons of Excellence in Robotic Surgery
Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) recognizes the world’s top surgeons who are dedicated to safety, high-quality surgical care, and optimal patient outcomes. Those top surgeons now include Dr. Walter Sartor, Dr. Bart Liles, and Dr. Patrick Smith, who have recently achieved accreditation as Surgeons of Excellence in Robotic Surgery.
This accreditation means that surgeons Sartor, Liles, and Smith—partners at the Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana—provide the highest quality of patient care as determined by an independent, external evaluation process.
The honor symbolizes the clinic’s dedication to innovation, said Dr. Walter Sartor.
"It’s great to be recognized by such a prestigious organization as SRC. Robotic surgery has been a significant part of our practice now for over five years and has certainly improved our outcomes with minimally invasive colon surgery, hernia surgery, as well as some aspects of bariatric surgery," he said. “Validation at this level is so important moving forward."
Dr. Sartor expressed the physicians' gratitude to those who helped formalize the challenging accreditation process, including Debbie Austin, the nursing program director for the Center of Excellence Robotic Surgery at St. Francis Medical Center/P&S Surgery & Heart Center.
"We’ve all worked diligently to achieve this goal, and it would not have been possible without the efforts of everyone involved. I would like to thank Debbie Austin, RN, for her role in putting this all together. We all appreciate the commitment St. Francis has demonstrated in this effort as well," he said.
Health care organizations and surgeons seeking accreditation by SRC undergo an extensive self-assessment and inspection process. This includes physicians, nurses, and administrators who are actively involved in the accredited program.
The inspection is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization or surgeon improve its care and services. Not all hospitals and surgeons seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous inspection process are granted accreditation.
"We’re proud to recognize Dr. Bart Liles, Dr. Walter M. Sartor, and Dr. Patrick Smith for their commitment to advancing and providing quality care for all patients,” said Gary M. Pratt, CEO of SRC. "This accreditation signals that these physicians are among the best in this specialty and are dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible."
Doctors Sartor, Liles, and Smith are trained to perform a large variety of minimally invasive surgeries using the da Vinci robot, which they control via a separate console. The da Vinci gives the doctors added precision and range of motion; it also delivers 3D high-definition images, giving them a more accurate view of the surgical area.
How does a minimally invasive approach benefit patients?
Patients experience:
Contact the surgery clinic today with your questions about minimally invasive surgery options and the clinic's wide array of services, including vein procedures.
More about SRC:
Established in 2003, SRC is an internationally recognized, nonprofit patient safety organization dedicated to recognizing and refining surgical care. SRC accredits the top hospitals, surgeons, and health professionals worldwide that meet our proven standards.
