The robots are coming<i>Enhancing access to robotic surgery for Australia’s geographically diverse population</i>

<p dir="ltr">SUMMARY</p><p dir="ltr">Artificial intelligence and robotic technologies are seamlessly integrating into all aspects of healthcare and surgical techniques have advanced alongside. Operations have evolved from open, to keyhole, and now to robotic-assisted surgery with its many advantages. This cutting-edge technology should be available to all Australians, but uptake is limited by many factors, including lack of a national curriculum, low exposure, high cost and a scarcity of mentors and trainers.</p><p dir="ltr">I am researching ways to expand access from metropolitan centres and private hospitals to rural and remote locations by using a range of solutions: simulating the operative steps with high fidelity synthetic organs, employing remote learning using models and creating expert training courses. By upskilling local surgeons who can help deliver this care, in the future, a specialist team in an urban centre will be able to safely operate on a remote patient anywhere in Australia.</p><p dir="ltr">VIDEO SCRIPT</p><p dir="ltr">Robotic assisted surgery has many advantages, with smaller incisions, vastly improved surgical access, less bleeding, and shorter recovery times. It requires a surgical team at the bedside to set up and a highly trained operator who controls the robot arms. These procedures have now become more common place for many operations. However, access to such technology is largely restricted to urban centres and private hospitals. This excludes one third of the population in Australia, who live in rural or remote areas.</p><p dir="ltr">My research addresses the challenges in robotic surgical delivery for a dispersed population, identifying ways to overcome barriers to access and finding solutions to enhance the delivery of training. I am doing this by looking at high fidelity simulation, scalable courses, training experts and upskilling our rural and remote surgeons to provide bedside assistance for telesurgery when this becomes a reality for Australia.</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p>