As Seen on WKRN Local on 2: Robotic Surgery and a New Approach to Recovery at Nashville General Hospital

When you need surgery, two things matter most: a good result and a smooth recovery. Nashville General Hospital is focused on both. In a recent segment, WKRN Local on 2 went inside the hospital's surgical suites to show how the team uses advanced robotic technology and a new recovery program to help patients heal with smaller incisions and less pain medicine. It reflects a promise our community can count on: current surgical technology and patient-first care for everyone we serve.

Watch the Segment

 Video courtesy of WKRN Local on 2, reported by Sylvia Castaneda.

What the Segment Showed

Robotic surgery with a clearer view

Nashville General uses the da Vinci surgical system, which lets a surgeon operate through incisions about half an inch long. It provides a magnified, 3D view and instruments that bend and rotate beyond what the human wrist can do, making delicate areas easier to reach.

Seeing what the eye cannot

With a contrast dye and a switch to blue light, the surgeon can see structures normally hidden under tissue, including details like blood flow. That means more precise, confident cuts.

Smaller incisions, fewer complications

Because the cuts are smaller, patients often have less pain after surgery and a lower risk of problems like hernias and infections tied to larger incisions.

A new approach to pain and opioids

Nashville General has partnered with Goldfinch Health and its Billion Pill Pledge, a national effort to cut opioid use after surgery. The program helps the surgical team treat pain in more than one way instead of relying mainly on opioid pills.

A recovery kit and a personal nurse

Patients get a kit with a VibraCool device, which uses cold and vibration to ease pain, and a disposal bag that safely breaks down leftover opioid pills. Each patient is also paired with a personal nurse who calls before surgery, explains the kit, and stays available for questions or help with needs like transportation.

Early results

The team reports patients are using less pain medicine while still getting strong relief, and they value having a nurse they can reach directly.

Why This Matters

Access to modern surgical care should not depend on where you live or what you can afford. By offering robotic surgery and a recovery program designed to reduce opioid use, Nashville General helps patients heal faster and safer, reflecting our ongoing commitment to patient-centered care for the whole Nashville community.

Related at Nashville General

• Nashville General Hospital Announces Robotic Surgery Program
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Source: WKRN Local on 2, "Nashville General Hospital: New Technology," reported by Sylvia Castaneda. Watch the segment. Goldfinch Health and the Billion Pill Pledge are referenced as a Nashville General Hospital surgical care partner.