McCook, Neb. – The people have spoken, and Community Hospital’s new da Vinci 5 surgical robot officially has a name: Otto-Matic.

Community Hospital recently invited area schools to help name the newest addition to its Surgery Department. Students submitted their creative suggestions, and members of Community Hospital’s Surgery Team narrowed the entries to five finalists before turning the final decision over to the community.

A total of 384 votes were cast, with Otto-Matic receiving 231 votes, or 61% of the total.

Final results included:
•    Otto-Matic: 231 votes, 61%
•    Wall-E: 80 votes, 20%
•    Edward Scissorhands: 52 votes, 14%
•    Doctor Surge: 15 votes, 3%
•    Chloe-Bot: 6 votes, 2%

While the new name adds some personality, the technology behind Otto-Matic represents an important investment in surgical care for Southwest Nebraska and the surrounding region.

Community Hospital purchased the da Vinci 5 system as an investment in expanding advanced surgical care close to home. The device is Intuitive’s fifth-generation robotic surgical system and features more than 150 design enhancements. The system provides surgeons with advanced 3D visualization and greater precision and control. The system also offers significantly increased computing power, creating additional opportunities to use data and analytics to support surgical care.

During robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon remains in control throughout the procedure, using the system’s advanced visualization and specialized instruments to perform precise movements through small incisions.

Bringing this technology to Community Hospital expands the advanced surgical capabilities available locally. For patients throughout the region, access to robotic-assisted procedures close to home can mean receiving advanced surgical care without having to travel to a larger metropolitan medical center, while remaining near family, friends and their local care team.

“This is about more than bringing a new piece of technology to Community Hospital. It’s about continuing to invest in the level of care we can provide right here in McCook. The da Vinci 5 gives our surgeons and team advanced tools to care for patients while giving more people the opportunity to receive high-quality surgical care close to home,” said Jill Truksa, Director of Surgery.

Adding “Otto” to our facility was a larger investment than just the robot itself. Community Hospital is thankful to the Nebraska DHHS and our federal delegation for helping make this possible through a $546,000 Rural Health Transformation Program grant. This funding supported the purchase of additional equipment and infrastructure improvements needed to bring this advanced technology to our rural facility.

The naming contest itself was inspired by Community Hospital’s Surgery Team as a fun way to involve the community in the arrival of the new technology. Community Hospital thanks the area schools and students who participated in the contest and shared their creativity, as well as the community members who took the time to cast their votes.

With 384 votes counted, advanced technology in place and a winning name selected, it’s official:

Welcome to the team, Otto-Matic!