Thompson Now a Center of Excellence for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Already designated by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence for both Hernia Surgery and Robotic Surgery, Thompson Hospital recently received a new SRC distinction: Center of Excellence for Minimally Invasive Surgery.

“We are thrilled for our surgeons and for our patients. This achievement is a reflection of the commitment on the part of our surgeons to continually elevate their skills, enhancing the surgical options available to our community,” said Thompson Health Executive Vice President/COO Kurt Koczent. He noted many of the options involve the hospital’s state-of-the-art da Vinci Xi robot. Acquired in 2020 to replace an older model that had been in use for many years, it offers surgeons enhanced imaging and intricate manipulation of the patient’s surgical site via a remote console adjacent to the operating table.

Based in Raleigh, N.C., SRC is a nonprofit, patient safety organization that provides accreditations for surgical facilities and medical professionals. The new accreditation it recently awarded to Thompson lasts through 2026. It followed a rigorous inspection.

 “The SRC has incredibly high standards,” Kurt said. “We have built a strong reputation for surgical excellence at Thompson over the years but it’s just as it says on the SRC’s website: Excellence is not simply an achievement – it is a culture that must be sustained.”

At the same time as the hospital received the designation, three surgeons – Drs. A. David Peter, Andrew Powers, and Joseph Talarico – were each deemed by the SRC to be Surgeons of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery. All three are part of the hospital’s Advanced Surgical Services team. Dr. Peter is the Director of our Robotic Surgery Program and Dr. Talarico is the director of our Hernia Surgery Program.

Dr. Peter and Dr. Talarico are both designated as SRC Master Surgeons.

Earlier this year, both the Robotic Surgery and Hernia Surgery programs at Thompson received re-accreditation from the SRC following a deficiency-free survey. The surveyor, Kurt said, described Thompson as professional and dedicated.

“She told us we have a lot to be proud of, with an outstanding program and outstanding outcomes. I couldn’t agree more!”