St. Luke's Allentown Campus and gynecologic surgeons Michael Patriarco, DO, St. Luke's Director of Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery; Tirun Gopal, MD; Sheldon Linn, MD and David Hanes, MD have been awarded the Center of Excellence designation in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG).

"This designation distinguishes both the hospital and the individual surgeons as providers who have met the requirements for delivering high-quality surgical care from those who have not," said Joseph Merola, MD, MPH, FACOG, St. Luke's Chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medical Director, Women's & Children's Service Line.

Hospitals and individual surgeons qualify for designation as a COEMIG by participating in an evaluation process designed to document that they have a comprehensive program and meet the established program requirements for providing safe gynecologic surgical care with excellent short- and long-term outcomes. The evaluation not only documents the surgical process (equipment, supplies, training of surgeons and staff and the availability of consultant services), but emphasizes patient results.

"Patients benefit from knowing that COEMIG-designated physicians are keenly aware that women want and need to return to a full and active life as soon as possible after surgery," said Dr. Patriarco.

Procedures that the St. Luke's physicians perform minimally-invasively include:

Removal of fibroids (myomectomy);

Endometrial ablation (for bleeding issues as an alternative to hormone treatments or hysterectomy);

Uterine cancer surgery;

Uterine prolapse;

Cystocele or dropped bladder repair;

Rectocele or dropped rectum repair;

Vaginal vault prolapse repair, and

Urinary and fecal incontinence repair

"These conditions afflict women of all ages and highly affect quality of life," said Dr. Gopal. "Women who cannot run to cross the street for fear of bladder leakage, who suffer severe cramps, pelvic pain, abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding and pain during intercourse need to know that minimally-invasive options are available to correct those conditions that detract from living well."

Part of the COEMIG designation is performing hysterectomies only when necessary, according to Dr. Linn. "Nearly 30 percent of the hysterectomies performed in this country have been deemed unnecessary.

"Instead, many St. Luke's gynecologists are performing minimally-invasive procedures in our offices and in the hospital that may help women avoid removal of their reproductive organs.

"However, when hysterectomies are needed, we prefer to perform the minimally-invasive surgery to speed recovery for our patients."