Chris Neighorn

Providence College, Providence Health & Services, St. Joseph Health System, Intuitive Surgical (United States)

Papers

Total Citations

158

H-Index

About

Dr. Chris Neighorn is a leading investigator in the comparative effectiveness and health economics of minimally invasive surgery, with a particular focus on robotic-assisted platforms. His work rigorously evaluates whether the higher costs of robotic systems translate into tangible clinical benefits. In a landmark 2018 study (85 citations), he provided a comprehensive cost analysis of robotic versus laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, offering critical data for hospital resource allocation. Dr. Neighorn further demonstrated that surgeon volume is a pivotal variable, showing that high-volume robotic surgeons achieve outcomes comparable to their laparoscopic peers in large healthcare systems (36 citations). His research also established that higher robotic colorectal surgery volume significantly improves patient outcomes (25 citations). Most recently, through the ROBOtic Care Outcomes Project, he has broken new ground by comparing emergent laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomies for acute gallbladder pathology using a large real-world database (12 citations, 2024), addressing a critical gap in evidence for emergency surgical care. Dr. Neighorn’s work provides the objective, data-driven foundation necessary for surgeons and hospitals to make informed decisions about the adoption and optimization of robotic technology.