Westchester Medical Center, the flagship academic medical center for the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), is set to become the first hospital in New York State to introduce the non-invasive surgical robotics platform, the ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery®,
which will transform brain cancer treatments for patients throughout the Hudson Valley. Installation of the ZAP-X platform is expected to commence in mid-2024.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a completely non-invasive and painless procedure, has emerged as a game-changer in the treatment for many primary and metastatic brain tumors, as well as other disorders of the brain, head, and neck. Typically completed in less than five brief outpatient visits, patients often resume their normal activities on the same day as the procedure.
Westchester Medical Center, with its distinguished 415-bed academic hospital status, is strategically positioned as a regional hub that serves as a lifeline for millions in the Hudson Valley and is conveniently located within close proximity to New York City, as well as many parts of both Connecticut & New Jersey.
Mark Hurwitz, MD, Director, Radiation Medicine at Westchester Medical Center, expressed enthusiasm about the arrival of the ZAP-X system, stating, "This novel technology will allow us to stay at the forefront of medical innovation and continue to deliver exceptional care while minimizing the impact on our patients' daily lives."
The ZAP-X system, renowned for its ground-breaking design, utilizes unique gyroscopic mobility to direct radiosurgical beams from thousands of potential unique angles and accurately focus radiation on the intended tumor or target. This innovative method aims to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the ability to avoid critical structures like the brain stem, eyes, and optic nerves. Additionally, it aims to reduce exposure to healthy brain tissue, safeguarding patient cognitive function.
ZAP-X also stands out as the inaugural and sole vault-free SRS delivery system, doing away with the necessity for healthcare providers to construct expensive shielded radiation treatment rooms. And by employing a contemporary linear accelerator for radiation generation, ZAP-X is also the first and only dedicated cranial radiosurgery system that no longer relies on Cobalt-60 radioactive sources, thereby eliminating the substantial efforts and expenses associated with hosting, securing, and regularly replacing radioactive isotopes.
About Westchester Medical Center Health Network
The Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) is a 1,700-bed healthcare system headquartered in Valhalla, New York, with nine hospitals on seven campuses spanning 6,200 square miles of the Hudson Valley. WMCHealth employs more than 13,000 people and has nearly 3,000 attending physicians. The Network has Level I (adult and pediatric), Level II and Level III trauma centers, the region’s only acute care children’s hospital, an academic medical center, several community hospitals, dozens of specialized institutes and centers, Comprehensive and Primary Stroke Centers, skilled nursing, assisted living facilities, home-care services and one of the largest mental health systems in New York State. Today, WMCHealth is the pre-eminent provider of integrated health care in the Hudson Valley. For more information about WMCHealth, visit WMCHealth.org or follow WMCHealth on Facebook.com/WMCHealth or Instagram.com/WMCHealth.
