February 24, 2026
Expanding outpatient robotic surgery in Colorado
More outpatient robotic surgery at Kaiser Permanente’s Colorado surgery centers will improve the experience for patients and surgeons and reduce the costs of care.
The Franklin Medical Offices began using a new surgical robot in February 2026.
In the middle of the everyday bustle of the outpatient surgery center at the Kaiser Permanente Franklin Medical Offices, a new high-tech addition to the surgical team quietly arrived in early 2026. A hulking, matte white robot — with 4 arms, blinking blue lights, a monitoring tower, and a console for surgeons to control it — stood ready and waiting to help its first patients.
Sybil Dessie, MD, a urogynecology surgeon, was one of the first to use the robot. She said the machine is an important upgrade for members who need certain surgeries, as well as for physicians and staff.
“It allows us to do major complex procedures with very small incisions,” Dr. Dessie said. “Small incisions allow patients to go home sooner with less pain, and it reduces the rate of complications.”
More robots for more surgeries
Kaiser Permanente has used outpatient robotic surgery for total joint replacements at its Lone Tree outpatient surgical center and in hospitals for several years.
However, adding capacity at the Franklin Medical Offices enables surgical teams to perform more outpatient procedures in-house, including general surgery, gynecology, urogynecology, and gynecological oncology procedures.
“We've already been doing wonderful outpatient surgeries here, but the ability to do robotic surgery here is really going to change things,” said Dr. Dessie.
Greg Berman, MD, interim president and executive medical director at Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, agreed. He said robots like this can improve operations and costs in ways that make Kaiser Permanente better for its members.
“Investing in in-house, outpatient robotic surgery is just one way we are leaning into our mission to provide high-quality, affordable care to our members,” Dr. Berman said. “It improves access to a hospital-level of surgical care at a fraction of the cost, because it's in our own facility with our own highly skilled staff.”
And this robot is not the last. The new Kaiser Permanente Westminster Medical Offices are scheduled to open in 2028, and when they do, Kaiser Permanente will open its first outpatient surgical center in the Denver North Metro area. The new surgical center plans to feature robotic surgery, too.
It allows us to do major complex procedures with very small incisions. Small incisions allow patients to go home sooner with less pain, and it reduces the rate of complications. Sybil Dessie, MD
How robotic surgery works
Not every procedure for every patient will use the robot. Dr. Dessie said members will typically discuss with their physician what treatments may be right for their conditions and desired outcomes.
However, when a patient is preparing for surgery with the robot, surgeons place small ports on the body. Tiny surgical tools and cameras attached to each of the robot’s 4 arms enter the body through the ports.
“It's similar to an octopus,” Dr. Dessie said. “Rather than just my 2 hands, I have the benefit of having all these accessory arms to use to do more things at the same time.”
Surgeons work seated at a console. They look into a viewfinder where they can see what cameras are seeing inside the patient.
“The robot has really good optics that allow me to see closer,” said Dr. Dessie. “I can have more precise accuracy with my surgery, and it improves patient outcomes.”
With their pointer fingers and thumbs, surgeons move small joystick-like loops up and down, through pinching movements. Those movements tell the robotic arms what to do inside the body, millimeter by millimeter.
“It’s much more ergonomic for your hands,” she said. “You can get much finer details.”
With their feet, the surgeon can switch arms or zoom the camera in and out.
Dr. Dessie said tools like these can also extend the careers of surgeons, because robotic-assisted procedures are less strenuous than laparoscopic surgeries.
“We’re super excited to have the robot come to the Franklin Medical Offices,” she said.
