A system and method are provided for improving the positioning of a target anatomy relative to a robot to perform a medical procedure. The system and method is especially advantageous for complex procedures that require a large operational workspace and/or several manipulator orientation changes to execute a surgical plan in its entirety such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA), as well as any of a wide variety of other surgical procedures, orthopedic or otherwise, including hip arthroplasty, ligament reconstruction, and shoulder arthroplasty. Dynamic and controlled repositioning of the target anatomy promotes robotic surgical system access in a way that any static positioning of the target anatomy cannot thereby speeding a surgical process and extending the spatial range of operation of the robot and tools carried thereon.