In celebration of Men’s Health Month this June, Covenant Health has announced the expansion of its cutting-edge, AI-powered prostate treatment across East Tennessee, spurred by the life-changing success of its earliest patients.

Cumberland Medical Center (CMC) was the first in the region to introduce the HYDROS™ Robotic System, which delivers advanced Aquablation® therapy to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate. The condition currently affects more than 40 million men across the United States.

For Crossville resident Larry Helm, the new technology provided relief when traditional options failed. Helm had spent over a decade managing his enlarged prostate with medication, but his symptoms continued to worsen despite being on the maximum allowable dosage.

On March 31, 2025, Helm underwent the ultrasound-guided, waterjet Aquablation treatment at CMC—a choice he now calls one of the best decisions of his life.

“It’s changed my life, because I’m not getting up four to five times in the evening anymore,” Helm shared. “There’s been evenings where I slept through without having to get up at all.”

The minimally invasive procedure takes approximately 45 minutes, followed by an hour and a half in recovery. By utilizing artificial intelligence and ultrasound imaging, the system allows surgeons to map the prostate in real-time, removing problematic tissue with a high-pressure waterjet while preserving surrounding structures.

“This technology allows us to personalize treatment for each patient while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue,” said Dr. William Young, MD, Helm’s urologist at CMC. “For many men, that means effective symptom relief with fewer side effects and a faster recovery.”

Following the success at Cumberland Medical Center, Covenant Health is broadening access to the technology. The healthcare network has officially launched the Aquablation HYDROS™ system in Knoxville at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, where urologists Dr. John-Paul Newport and Dr. Edward Tieng are now performing the procedure.

According to hospital officials, early patient data from the Knoxville expansion mirrors Helm’s experience, showing:

• Significant reductions in daily and nightly bathroom trips

• Decreased disruption to work and daily routines

• A reduced reliance on long-term BPH medications

“At Cumberland Medical Center, we are proud to bring advanced technologies like Aquablation therapy to the patients we serve right here at home,” said Jason Pilant, Chief Administrative Officer at CMC. “This level of innovation… allows us to deliver exceptional care and meaningful outcomes for our patients.”