Robert R. Cima, M.D.

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SUMMARY

The research interests of Robert R. Cima, M.D., broadly align with his wide-ranging clinical practice. His primary focus is on measuring and improving surgical outcomes. He has written extensively on the value and flaws of different measurement modalities as applied to patients requiring surgery.

Dr. Cima is largely involved in quantifying the impact of different process-improvement initiatives for the preoperative, operative and postoperative care of surgical patients. In particular, he focuses on improving the clinical outcomes of patients who have colorectal surgery. Another research interest involves the outcomes of patients undergoing surgical intervention to repair parastomal hernias.

Focus areas

• Postoperative results. Dr. Cima works with a multidisciplinary group to evaluate and enhance clinical processes to optimize outcomes after surgery.
• Patient safety. Dr. Cima collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to design and implement processes to enhance patient safety in the hospital setting through care redesign and technology integration.
• Parastomal hernia repair. Dr. Cima studies the utility, technique, and clinical short- and long-term outcomes of robotic surgery to address parastomal hernias.

Significance to patient care

Patient outcomes after surgery rely on more than just what happens in the operating room. Preparation before surgery, processes during surgery and care after surgery can affect the patient's outcome from any surgical intervention.

To improve surgical processes and outcomes, investigators need to know how the current processes work and how the healthcare system works, in general. Using that core knowledge as a basis, Dr. Cima's group is making advancements and finding ways to measure those improvements. His multidisciplinary research team continues to focus on ways to streamline processes to improve patient outcomes.