A retired nurse who spent most of her nursing career in operating rooms including those at Peace Arch Hospital is the first patient in B.C. – and likely Western Canada – to receive a new hip with the aid of a robotic-arm assisted surgical system.

Maureen Coutts underwent the procedure on April 24 at Burnaby Hospital. Just over one month post-surgery, she says she is still in awe of how far health care has come since she first walked into an operating room.

“I’ve seen so much innovation over the years that helps patients,” the 71-year-old said in a June 3 news release.

“I just never imagined I would be the recipient of it.”

Dr. Tim Kostamo – division head of orthopedics at Burnaby Hospital – performed the procedure with the help of the donor-funded $2.3-million Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted

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