Jun. 17, 2026
Covenant Health’s Cumberland Medical Center was the first in East Tennessee to introduce new robotic technology powered by artificial intelligence to treat enlarged prostates, and for Men’s Health Month this June, early adopter Larry Helm is sharing how the treatment has changed his life.
The HYDROS™ Robotic System offers minimally invasive Aquablation® therapy to provide symptom relief for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate, which impacts over 40 million men in the United States.
Larry Helm of Crossville said he had been taking medication to manage an enlarged prostate for more than a decade, but the symptoms kept getting worse, even on the maximum dose of medication. Helm’s doctor told him about the new, ultrasound guided, waterjet Aquablation™ treatment offered at Cumberland Medical Center, and Helm underwent the procedure on March 31, 2025, noting it was one of the best decisions he ever made.
“It’s changed my life, because I’m not getting up four to five times in the evening anymore,” Helm said. “There’s been evenings where I slept through without having to get up at all.”
Helm’s doctor, urologist William Young, MD, is passionate about the treatment, which helps relieve inflammation and improve bladder function.
“This technology allows us to personalize treatment for each patient while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue,” Young said. “For many men, that means effective symptom relief with fewer side effects and a faster recovery.”
The procedure takes about 45 minutes, followed by about 1.5 hours in recovery.
“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. “This level of innovation, combined with Dr. Young’s expertise and experience with advanced surgical technology, allows us to deliver exceptional care and meaningful outcomes for our patients.”
The innovative treatment has been so successful that Covenant Health is now expanding access, offering the first Aquablation HYDROS™ technology in Knoxville at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.
Drs. John-Paul Newport and Edward Tieng are both offering the procedure in Knoxville.
The physicians say early patient experiences show meaningful improvements in both symptoms and daily life, including fewer trips to the bathroom, less disruption at work and daily activities, and reduced reliance on long-term medications.
Covenant Health is committed to expanding access to advanced care and innovative technology to ensure patients in communities across East Tennessee have access to expert, compassionate care close to home.
Learn more about Covenant Health services or call 865-374-0411.
About Covenant Health
Covenant Health is an East Tennessee-based healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. As a not-for-profit health system, we are dedicated to being the region’s premier healthcare network through service, community and innovation. We provide patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strives to be the first and best choice for our patients, employees, physicians, employers, volunteers and communities. Covenant Health is the area’s largest private employer with more than 14,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees, in addition to valuable volunteers. Learn more at CovenantHealth.com.
