A Few Days at Mayo Clinic: Quality of Care
No one really wants to need a second medical opinion. Or a first, for that matter. We’d all love to skate through life – healthy, and without a care. But for many of us, that’s just not the way life works out. And when the need for quality care arises, spending a few days at the Mayo Clinic can be the answer.
Health is a funny thing. You’re usually great. Until you’re not. And finding yourself not-great may not mean anything as potentially serious as a cancer diagnosis or a heart condition. Sometimes, it’s a general breakdown as we age, amplified by osteoarthritis, past injuries, or any number of things.
Even after perfectly satisfactory care from our primary care doctor or team, something may still nag at us. Could something have been missed, or where do we go from here to continue regaining our health? Or, maybe we’ve been left with what can feel like the most challenging diagnosis of all, the “let’s wait and see.”
The thought of losing our taken-for-granted mobility, or overall quality of life, is a terrifying thing to face. When faced with a complex diagnosis, one overseen by a team of specialists, but no ring-leader, we can be left wondering if anyone can really see the issue in its entirety. In my case, a consult at Mayo Clinic has started me on the path back to wellness.
Quality of care at Mayo Clinic
Since its start, in 1846, Mayo Clinic has grown from a small medical practice in Rochester, Minnesota, to a globally recognized medical institution with bases in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. Learn all about Mayo Clinic’s rich history here.
Founded in 1864, by William Mayo, the Mayo Clinic experienced an evolution under William’s sons, Dr. Will and Dr. Charlie Mayo.
Wanting to ensure Mayo’s legacy and mission, Dr. Will and Dr. Charlie, along with their wives, signed a document, in 1919, called the “Deed of Gift.” This document ensured what had begun as a family practice and grew into a limited partnership, with an expanding list of doctors, would retain its mission. Theirs was a practice founded on a commitment to a teamwork-based approach to excellent patient care, education, and research.
The not-for-profit entity the Mayo brothers instituted is based on the enduring mission that “The ultimate success of the Clinic, past, present and future, must be measured by its contributions to the good of mankind.”
During the early 20th Century, Mayo Clinic founders sought to ensure Mayo Clinic’s primary focus would remain on patient care and medical innovation. This pivotal move enabled Mayo to lead medical advancements. For example, in 1935, Mayo Clinic established the first hospital-based blood bank, paving the way for modern transfusion medicine.
Mayo Clinic care from a patient’s perspective
Today’s Mayo Clinic is a comprehensive medical center that integrates clinical practice, education, and research. From a patient’s perspective, Mayo offers something far different from what we may find in other health care systems. Namely, the Mayo brothers’ approach of team-based medicine
When and how to seek a Mayo Clinic appointment
The Rochester campus offers care ranging from primary care to specialized treatments and education. Equipped with advanced diagnostic tools and therapies, Mayo Clinic often schedules patients with a full agenda of appointments in order to gather all the diagnostic tools necessary for a complete patient assessment.
A patient may first meet with a doctor in a particular specialty, but based on intake questions and scans, bloodwork and exams, specialists from various fields collaborate to provide individualized care tailored to each patient’s needs. This holistic approach means patients get the expertise, insight, and collaborate problem-solving that can truly make the difference in level of care.
How to get an appointment at Mayo Clinic
Seeking medical care at Mayo Clinic can be pretty straightforward. Start by requesting an appointment, and filling in all the required forms. Mayo Clinic has a robust app and medical portal that makes keeping track of outstanding forms, appointments, changes, etc., easy to navigate.
Sometimes, it’s a nagging suspicion something’s being missed, or wishing for a more integrated approach to a medical issue that drives prospective patients to Mayo Clinic. Other times, it may be wanting confirmation of a diagnosis or treatment plan.
Do second opinions mean we’re unsatisfied with our doctor
Seeking a second opinion in medical care has become pretty common. The second opinion process involves consulting another physician to obtain an additional perspective on a medical condition. This second review can help confirm your diagnosis, provide different treatment options, or just assure you the first diagnosis seems right.
A significant number of patients seek a second opinion. A study of medical records and survey data found that approximately 14.9% to 17.2% of the general population sought a second opinion. Orthopedic surgeons are the most commonly consulted specialists.
Physicians’ perspectives on providing second opinions
Physicians’ attitudes toward patients seeking second opinions vary. A survey indicates that 51.3% of doctors expressed a positive and accepting attitude, acknowledging the importance of patient autonomy and the right to seek additional perspectives. However, 34.5% voiced concerns about potential drawbacks, such as delays in treatment and increased patient anxiety.
Some physicians may feel challenged by a patient’s pursuit of a second opinion. Others see it as an opportunity for the patient to get confirmation of their diagnosis and treatment plan, ensuring the patient receives the best possible care. In the end, you are your own best health advocate. Trusting your instincts can be life changing.
The impact of second opinions on patient care
Second opinions have been shown to significantly influence patient care, sometimes leading to changes in diagnosis or treatment plans. A study conducted at the Mayo Clinic found that 21% of patients who sought a second opinion received a completely new diagnosis, while 66% had their original diagnosis refined or redefined.
A discrepancy between your initial and subsequent opinion can have a big impact on your outcome. In up to 58% of cases, differing opinions led to significant changes in patient management. This is a pretty compelling number.
Satisfaction rates with second opinions
Let’s face it, if your second opinion confirms your initial diagnosis, it can help you move forward with more confidence and overall satisfaction.
A study focusing on cancer patients seeking second surgical opinions found that 31% were dissatisfied with their first specialist. The second opinion often provided these patients with alternative treatment options or reinforced the initial recommendation, leading to improved satisfaction and confidence in their care choices.
Challenges remain
While second opinions can be beneficial, they are not without challenges. Your treatment can be delayed, healthcare costs can rise, and you may receive conflicting medical advice. It can also be uncomfortable to express your desire for a second opinion with your original physician or surgeon.
Again, you are your own best advocate and if something feels off or incomplete, a second opinion can be just the confirmation you need to move forward with confidence.
A finely-oiled machine staid in tradition but thoroughly modernized
Mayo Clinic has a highly refined system of moving patients through the maze of tests and physician visits, once you arrive on campus. But the structured schedule begins before you even arrive. An aide from the team you’ve been assigned to calls you a week or two ahead of your appointments to confirm everything from medicines you may be taking, to questions you may have, to insurance coverage.
They also recommend downloading the Mayo Clinic app before your arrival as that’s the primary way you are notified of any changes to your schedule, once you are on-site. Perhaps even better though is all scans, medical notes, etc., are readily available to you on the portal.
My three-day visit to Mayo Clinic
My itinerary was set-up over three days, beginning at 6:30 a.m., the first day. For me, this meant I needed to stay in Rochester for a few nights. Driving from Minneapolis to Rochester, in February, in the pre-dawn hours, wasn’t something I wanted to do on multiple days.
Fortunately, The Kahler Grand Hotel is located directly across the street from Mayo, and has reasonably priced rooms, along with a patient discount. The rooms are basic but the Hotel has the charm of yesteryear and the rich tradition of Mayo Clinic.
So how do you get around at Mayo, given you may have appointments are a number of different buildings? You take the Subway.
‘Just take the subway’ doesn’t mean what you’d think it would at Mayo Clinic
But let me clarify. For anyone used to the NYC Subway, you should know the Mayo Clinic Subway is not an actual subway. I would say the best way to describe it is that the Mayo Subway means you need to go to the subway level – lower level – where you’ll enter the tunnel system connecting the various buildings on campus, navigable on foot. A patient really doesn’t need to venture outside to get from building-to-building; the elevators and interconnected tunnels are all you need.
Most appointments are in one of the following buildings:
- Mayo Building
- Hilton Building
- Gonza Building
- Charlton Building
- Eisenberg Building
- Methodist Hospital
How Mayo Clinic felt different
Physicians, in general, work under tight patient scheduling constraints and my experience through my primary system has been I might hardly make eye contact with a doctor during a visit. Their focus was always on inputting information, both to ensure accurate symptom and issue inputs, and save time on the back-end, post-appointment.
My Mayo visits were entirely different.
Mayo Clinic care in real-time
When my Mayo physician entered the exam room, he sat down across a narrow table from me, a computer monitor to the side. After greetings, he asked if I minded an AI-assist, so notes from our conversation could be recorded and transcribed in real time.
The computer was off-to-the-side for a reason. It was not his primary focus. I was.
After agreeing to the AI-assist, I was amazed at the lively discussion we had, covering everything from my medical history to my present situation, and my reason for reaching out to Mayo. From the first moment, I felt as though this physician was working to see my situation in its entirety. This, alone, confirmed for me that I had made the right decision in coming to Mayo.
Here’s the other big difference at Mayo. Some of the appointments you have scheduled when you arrive get nixed, and others may get added. This responsive approach to care feels both economical and on-point. You are not receiving unnecessary or incorrect tests, or consulting with a physician in a specialty no-longer indicated.
These schedule shifts, in an already tight schedule could mean not being able to get everything in during your stay. My experience was everyone from your physician to the maze of schedulers move mountains to ensure any additional scans, tests, or specialist visits get put on your itinerary during your stay.
My take-away? I sensed my physician was really listening to my answers to his questions, while also observing my eyes, skin, speech, and whatever else he could take in that might help shape his thoughts on my care.
When the consult part of my visit was complete, my physician turned the computer screen toward me. He asked if I’d quickly review the AI dictation with him, to correct any inaccuracies. Together, we made a few edits and clarifications before proceeding to the exam portion of the appointment.
A brief exam can reveal more than you know
To observe my gait, I was asked to walk across the small exam room, after which the physician said, “You’ve got some serious bunions, huh?” I’m not even sure how he noticed my feet (but he was correct), I do. The power of casual observation doesn’t feel ‘casual’ at Mayo Clinic. It feels like a large part of the entire package.
Instead of feeling squeezed into a physician’s busy day, with their attention on inputting information, I felt seen, heard, and cared for. This felt like a 3X experience to me.
My take-away from Mayo Clinic
My three-day visit to Mayo Clinic wasn’t the end of my journey there. I’ve had out-patient visits, scans, and E-consults. And I have another procedure scheduled, as of now. But Mayo has given me a confidence and confirmation in my care plan. And that is exactly what I needed in order to continue down my path to complete health.
