New Surgical Offices Open at Memorial Hospital to Complement State-of-the-art Surgical Services.

11/2/10

Memorial Hospital is about to open a new Surgical Office on its main campus to house the Hospital’s growing Surgical practice, which includes a broad range of surgical services and a state-of-of-the art operating theater.

The new suite will accommodate the practices of Memorial Hospital’s Surgical Services team, including: Robert W. Tilney III, MD, FACS, board-certified in general surgery; Morice P. Dennery, MD, the region’s only board-certified Urologist; and Victor Lazaron, MD, PhD, who is board-certified in general surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopy.

“Consolidating administrative office space for our surgical team in the new 2,355 square foot suite is expected to enhance patient flow for this busy practice,” said Scott McKinnon, Memorial Hospital’s President & CEO.

“Surgical care at Memorial Hospital is very collaborative,” said Tilney, who has practiced at the Hospital for 29 years. He will share the new Surgical Suite with Dr. Dennery and Dr. Lazaron.

“We expect the new office space to further facilitate collaboration among the surgical staff,” said Tilney. “Being condensed into one area that is dedicated to our team will only further enhance our ability to work together effectively and efficiently.”

“The Suite’s new procedure rooms are very impressive and also very comfortable for patients, and underscore our goal of providing the highest levels of care and service to the community,” said Dr. Lazaron.

“Memorial Hospital provides a very well rounded, general surgical enterprise with capability in endoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopic surgery, and surgeries of the abdomen, breast, skin, and endocrinal glands. We handle everything from abdominal hernias and hemorrhoids to various trauma, such as burns and acute care surgery. We also work closely with our oncology physicians and chemotherapists. Previously, many patients had to travel to Maine to receive the type of treatments that we now offer right here at Memorial.”

Tilney, who came to Memorial from Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, praises the hospital’s facilities and technology. “The three ORs are fully equipped with electronic equipment for the advanced surgical procedures we perform. These procedures include non-invasive hip replacements and other surgeries usually found at large hospitals in urban areas.”

“MH is as technically advanced as the best hospitals anywhere, but you will also receive personal, compassionate care,” said Tilney.

“We make use of state-of-the-art equipment that permits us to perform less invasive surgeries,” said Lazaron. For many procedures in the operating rooms, we have at our disposal, large computer screens that we can swing around and be put into position for laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures. The advantage of this is that we can avoid having to make big incisions. In other words, much of the work we do is minimally invasive.”

Dr. Lazaron, who is board-certified in both surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopy, has been practicing at Memorial Hospital for five and a half years. “In addition to endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies, we have the knowledge base to do many procedures that in other parts of the country would be done, by a gastroenterologist.” 

Dr. Dennery, who trained at Howard University Hospital, joined the Memorial Surgical team five years ago. “I was originally attracted to the variety and challenges Urology offers because I wanted to perform surgery, but still have an office practice that would allow me to work directly with patients,” he commented.  "I provide a wide range of services that include: evaluating and treating urologic cancers (kidney, bladder, prostate and testicular); treating enlarged prostates, incontinence; and helping patients with erectile dysfunction. I perform a wide range of laparoscopic and endoscopic, or minimally invasive, surgeries."

“We also typically see patients faster than most big city practices where it’s not uncommon to have a two-month wait for an appointment,” said Dr. Dennery. “Here, patients can, typically be seen sooner and can be treated by the same doctor from the original diagnosis, surgical procedure and throughout the patients recuperation. In the event a patient requires more than one type of procedure, we can also offer excellent coordination of care.”

"Often a surgery will involve several physicians," said Dr. Tilney. “Dr. Lazaron or I might be working side-by-side with one of the gynecologists or the orthopedic surgeons—or we might also collaborate on a case with Dr. Dennery. This teamwork is of enormous benefit to our patients, and the camaraderie and collaboration are among the reasons I enjoy being a surgeon.”

Memorial Hospital’s surgical staff can be reached at 356-4835.