JCH&L Adding Robotic Surgery - JC Health and Life

Patients in southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas will have a new option for the latest technology in surgery early in 2026 at Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury. JCH&L has ordered the Intuitive da Vinci 5® surgical platform, designed with the goal of further advancing technology used in minimally invasive care.

Dr. Brad Olberding, an experienced robotic general surgeon with General Surgery Associates of Lincoln, will be the general surgeon as the da Vinci 5 is put into service in the JCH&L surgery department in early 2026. Dr. Olberding has performed more than 2,500 robotic procedures and has provided outreach at JCH&L since 2014. He is thrilled to see JCH&L planning to offer robotic surgery, and especially the latest generation of da Vinci.

Dr. Deann Paulson, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Beatrice Community Hospital Women’s and Children’s Clinic, also plans to use the da Vinci 5 robotic system for surgeries at JCH&L during her clinic at JCH&L. Dr. Paulson has been seeing patients at a monthly clinic since 2022. She also has robotic surgical experience.

The da Vinci 5 is Intuitive’s most advanced and integrated platform—designed to transform surgery to enable better outcomes, efficiency, and actionable insights. The system, which was approved by the FDA in March 2024, can be used for minimally invasive surgical procedures for urology, gynecology, thoracic, and general surgeries. The da Vinci 5 will be available for use at JCH&L for a number of general and gynecological surgeries.

JCH&L will be the first Critical Access Hospital in southeast Nebraska or northeast Kansas to implement the da Vinci 5. Only one other Critical Access Hospital in Nebraska – Sidney Regional Medical Center – currently utilizes the da Vinci 5.

“Robotic surgery maximizes our ability to perform any operation in a minimally invasive fashion,” Dr. Olberding said. “With robotic surgery we use smaller incisions and cause less trauma to tissues translating to better outcomes and quicker recoveries.”

The JCH&L surgical staff is excited to add robotic general surgery.

“The surgical robot won’t be just a tool for Jefferson Community Health & Life surgery department— it will be a bridge between human skill and technological precision, making it possible for your surgery recovery time to decrease and outcomes increase. We couldn’t be more excited for this technology and opportunity in our small town, enabling patients to stay close to home for their surgical needs,” said Sarah Bauer, RN, Surgery Manager.

Dr. Olberding said he has always enjoyed operating at JCH&L. He says the staff is passionate about providing good care. They are up to date on surgical standards and evidence-based medicine. They take pride in taking care of their community.

“I love offering this care to patients, but often this created a dilemma as I knew the robotic platform could provide better results. That dilemma has been resolved with this new purchase, and I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Dr. Olberding said.

“Patients are appreciative to have their surgery close to home, and be taken care of by compassionate and friendly staff at JCH&L,” Dr. Olberding said. “I’m happy to be able to be part of a team providing compassionate, state-of-the-art care to our area residents.”

Intuitive says the da Vinci 5 technology guarantees shorter hospital stays as well as reduced blood loss and scarring, and faster recovery times.

Dr. Olberding said robotic surgery improves nearly every measurable surgical parameter, and he is excited about the enhancements available with the latest model which he will use at JCH&L.

Intuitive says the latest model provides more than 150 new design innovations. It expands upon core da Vinci system features, including wristed instruments, 3DHD visualization, intuitive motion, and an ergonomic design. As with all da Vinci surgical systems, the surgeon is 100% in control of the robotic-assisted da Vinci system, which translates their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body.

Key enhancements include:

First-of-its-kind Force Feedback technology, which can reduce the amount of force on tissue;

Optimized vision with truer colors, higher image resolution, and the most realistic da Vinci 3D image;

Better ergonomics for greater surgeon comfort and surgical viewing;
More than 10,000x the computing power of da Vinci Xi to deliver actionable insights.

Intuitive says the da Vinci 5 system is a future-ready platform with advanced capabilities today and abundant capacity to incorporate ongoing enhancements.

“We are thrilled to be a leader in this field and look forward to continue bringing southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas advanced minimally invasive robotic surgery options right here in Fairbury, close to home,” said JCH&L CEO Holly Wolff.

Ask your doctor if robotic surgery by an experienced surgeon would be right for your general surgical needs. Referrals accepted from all providers.

For more information on minimally invasive surgical options at Jefferson Community Health & Life contact us at 402-729-3351 or visit JCHealthandLife.org.