Training Approach

Intuitive Surgical’s comprehensive training program is designed to optimize safety, efficacy and use of the da Vinci® Surgical System. We believe rigorous training standards and support of our System users is essential to establishing and maintaining a successful da Vinci Surgery program.

Intuitive Surgical developed the da Vinci Surgery Training Pathway to help OR teams meet surgical demand, while achieving clinical proficiency in the safest, most efficient manner possible. The Training Pathway includes: product training, clinical training, and clinical education for integrated teams of surgeons and OR staff. This team-oriented approach was developed because experience demonstrated that:

  • Training should involve the entire team
  • The competence of the entire surgical team is critical to safely and effectively managing and operating the da Vinci Surgical System

To accomplish these training goals, Intuitive Surgical works with experienced, independent faculty with extensive knowledge of da Vinci Surgery. These faculty members conduct didactic and laboratory sessions that teach specialized pre-, intra- and post-operative techniques unique to the da Vinci System. In-depth, hands-on segments enable participants to practice learned surgical techniques.

According to our customers, the surgeon and OR team’s full commitment to following this process can help to shorten the learning curve and facilitate safe and effective procedure adoption.

For further details on our comprehensive training program, resources and tools, please see our Customer Services section, and speak with your Intuitive Surgical representative about surgeon and/or hospital's needs. You can also visit the da Vinci Surgery Online Community for more information on training. The Online Community is a free service brought to you by Intuitive Surgical.

Besides providing training information, the Online Community allows you access to: the largest collection of robotic surgery abstracts, over 1,000 hours of procedure videos, a range of supporting procedural materials and peer-to-peer discussions, all provided via a secure social networking site. To sign up, go to www.daVinciSurgeryCommunity.com.


Intuitive Surgical only trains on the use of the da Vinci Surgical System. The information provided during Intuitive Surgical training is not intended to substitute for formal medical training or certification. Intuitive Surgical is in no way responsible for surgical credentialing or for training in surgical procedure or technique, nor are the training programs described a replacement for hospital credentialing requirements. All curricula described are subject to change depending on available resources, as well as on the needs of the course participants.

Some of the training described may be provided by organizations or entities other than Intuitive, and Intuitive is not responsible for the content of these programs. Surgeon proctors are independent contractors. The listed prices are for services rendered by the independent surgeon proctors. A list of surgeon proctors can be provided upon request. Intuitive Surgical does not train on surgical procedures or techniques, nor does it take responsibility for proctoring services provided by the independent surgeon proctors. The hospital/surgeon purchases the proctoring service as part of training they have independently determined to be part of their credentialing requirement; Intuitive Surgical's role is merely to coordinate between the hospital/surgeon and the proctor. The proctors and the hospital/surgeon are always free to negotiate with each other directly.

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