Saint Francis Celebrates 500th Procedure Using the Ion Endoluminal System
March 12, 2024Categories: Organizational Updates
Saint Francis has completed its 500th robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedure using the Ion endoluminal system, becoming the first hospital in Connecticut to reach this milestone. The team of interventional pulmonology and thoracic specialists, led by Anil Magge, M.D., Director of Interventional Pulmonology, are among the national leaders in Ion procedures, with Dr. Magge being one of the top single users across the country.
“We are so proud to have completed 500 procedures with the Ion System,” said Dr. Magge. “At Saint Francis, we are committed to providing transformative care to our community, and by providing minimally invasive options like robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, we have been able to make a huge difference in outcomes. We know that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, and with our incredible multidisciplinary team of pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and oncologists, we are able to provide life-changing care to our patients by significantly reducing the time from detection to diagnosis to treatment.”
Ion is one part of the cutting-edge Thoracic Oncology Program at Saint Francis, which allows lung cancer patients to have early detection, biopsy, and surgery to remove the cancerous growth all within a significantly shortened timeframe of just a few weeks. Typically, the journey from when a potentially cancerous lung nodule is detected through surgical removal can last 2-2.5 months, while the Saint Francis program has shorted that to approximately 17 days. The team is committed to taking an innovative approach to patient care to ensure they are eliminating delays and improving the coordination of care with each specialist. This multidisciplinary coordination expedites the patient’s journey to wellness by providing a high level of care seen at major hospitals in Boston and New York City in a setting close to home.
“It is because of our entire team of nurses, technicians, clinical, and non-clinical staff in Pulmonology, Surgery, Radiology, Operating Room, Environmental Services, Administration, and many others, that allow us to provide this level of care to our patients,” said Dr. Magge. “I want to express my thanks to everyone involved, as we would not be able to reach these milestones without them. I am proud and grateful to be a part of Saint Francis and a team that is incredibly dedicated to changing the lives of the community we serve.”
Dr. Magge sees patients and performs procedures at Saint Francis and the IP program recently launched at Mercy Medical Center where he is also accepting new patients. Learn more about the Ion system at www.trinityhealthofne.org/ion.