Jewel Ball fundraiser exceeds expectations for HRRMC | Local News

Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center Foundation’s annual Jewel Ball raised $128,000 before expenses to benefit the hospital’s robotic surgery program Oct. 2 at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort. 

HRRMC Foundation Director Lezlie Burkley said the amount “exceeds what we were hoping” for the fundraiser. 

“That HRRMC robotic surgery program … is such a magnet for donations,” she said. “People are really excited that we have this service and that it’s putting us into the future in terms of services and gaining new physicians … . I think the energy (Thursday) night, the excitement and the donations really prove that this is something that people are excited about.”

The event “oversold” sponsorships in July, which gave Burkley the feeling it would be a good year. 

“It has become a great, popular event, good momentum and good energy,” she said, “and we’re just really grateful for our long-term donors, our new donors and the support from the community.”

All proceeds of the evening’s festivities will be put toward the hospital’s robotic surgery program, utilizing the Da Vinci 5 system by Intuitive. The unit itself costs around $2 million, with additional equipment and systems costing another $1 million.

HRRMC President John Tucker recognized the hospital’s surgeons who will use the robotic equipment: Dr. Jeremy Hedges, Dr. Zachary Green, Dr. Stefan Iverson, Dr. Tiffany Rhodes, Dr. Mike Hannah, Dr. Cole Wiedel and Dr. Karen Johnson. 

Burkley thanked current and past board members for their contributions and those who worked to put on the ball, donors and the HRRMC community. 

“Together, we do great things for regional healthcare, and we serve a region of 8,000 square miles, which is about the size of New Jersey,” she said. “Together we create more access to healthcare here at home in this region, which reduces additional medical and travel costs for our residents.”

She highlighted the Delnay Guest House, which opened in May and is looking to expand. 

“It’s amazing where people are coming from: Crestone, Alamosa, Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Crested Butte, Del Norte, El Paso, Texas, Gunnison, Hartsel, La Jara, Manassa, Marietta, Texas, Monte Vista, Montrose, Mosca, Powderhorn, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Cristobal, New Mexico, Sapello, New Mexico, South Fork, Westcliffe, Phoenix and Altmont,” she said. “That’s a lot of people coming through that are staying overnight for free and getting their medical care. … That’s what your money has done.”

The hospital also hopes to open the Mary Ann Banach Wound Care Center in May. 

Before settling for dinner, attendees had the chance to try their hand on the Da Vinci system, stretching bands and folding paper. Scott Szesterniak, an area sales manager with Intuitive, was on site to walk people through using the system. 

“The Da Vinci 5 is our newest flagship system for Intuitive. It’s a surgical robotic system, and surgeons will use this to do minimally invasive surgery,” he said. “This is truly an advancement in surgery that allows surgeons to do things they can’t with other forms of surgery.”

Having robotic surgery systems allows the hospital to do more complex procedures and treat local patients without having to send them to places like the Front Range. 

“One of the things (attendees) are learning is just how easy it is,” Szesterniak said. “It looks like a very complex process, and there are people who have no surgical training that can jump on this, and, when they do a demo, they’re able to manipulate and control the device very easily. When they see that, they can imagine, in a surgeon’s hands … what amazing things they could do.

“This is a great event,” he said. “I think it’s pretty amazing that Heart of the Rockies is willing to take the time and effort to try and bring this technology to their hospital for their patients. I think that’s something that should be applauded, and patients should feel really great about what their hospital is doing in their community.”

The evening also featured a live demonstration from doctors Hedges, Green and Iverson on the capabilities of the system: folding an airplane with a piece of paper the size of a sticky note.

“It allows us to do the best operation, the safest operation, for our patients, and at the end of the day that’s what all of this comes down to,” Hedges said. “Day after day, that’s really what we are trained to do and strive to do.”

Hedges likened the difference between traditional laparoscopic tools and the Da Vinci system to the difference between a landline and a smartphone. 

“There’s one thing your landline can do,” he said. “Think of all the things you can do with your iPhone. … We’re so grateful to have this here.” 

Burkley also recognized donations to the robotic surgery program from Adams Electric, Marge and Dick Allen and HRRMC employees.