As Mayo continues to bolster Rochester's presence as a "destination medical community" rather than a community patients stay in on their way to Mayo, the clinic also has begun pilots for "e-consults" that might allow a rural physician to consult with Mayo experts remotely.
Thus, Noseworthy said, perhaps 11 out of 12 patients with medical concerns could stay home in their own communities and avoid the long trip to Rochester. That will leave room for patients in need of a higher level of expertise to come to Rochester. Noseworthy spoke to the Post-Bulletin editorial board Thursday.
Noseworthy said Mayo is experimenting with a variety of ways to potentially connect with patients at home or in their home communities.
One example is a stroke robot that allows a physician at Mayo to connect to a patient in a way that not long ago might have seem almost unimaginable. The robot allows the doctor to listen to the artery in a patient's neck remotely for a stroke assessment.
"The technology is really getting good. The heart sounds you can listen to the heart beating remotely," Noseworthy said.
The goal is to have health care available as close to where the patient is as possible.
"The law is passed and everyone is now trying to understand what's in there and we are studying that and we are internally creating a report," Noseworthy. That should be available to Mayo leaders within the next 10 days or so, he said.
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"It's a law that's very, very complex and it touches Mayo Clinic in many ways," said John La Forgia, Mayo's chairman of public affairs. For example, the law contains components focused on comparative effectiveness research to help discern which treatments provide the best patient outcomes. It also sets up the start of creating health systems that pay based on value rather than by the volume of tests and procedures performed.
"That's a cornerstone of what we believe is important in health reform," La Forgia said.
He said there's a lot about the new law that the clinic will need to deal with, but it "is going to remain well positioned for the future." "Diversity is a huge strategic priority for Mayo," Noseworthy said. Mayo is supporting the RACE exhibit at the Rochester Public Library.
"So it's free of charge," Noseworthy said.
"We are expecting all physicians and scientists and staff to try to make their way over there," Weis said, noting that many issues about diversity are difficult for society to talk about.
"It's like a taboo, almost," she said.
But diversity isn't just a buzzword at Mayo. It's more of a need to make sure every patient feels welcome.
"We want to be the preferred destination for people of all backgrounds," Noseworthy said. That doesn't mean the Gonda Building will be sprouting new floors any time soon, though. La Forgia said there are no plans to add floors. "We find as we get more and more efficient, that we use the space a little more efficiently," Weis said. That means the clinic perhaps doesn't need to expand as rapidly.
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How the Mayo Clinic is Setting the Stage for Medical EvolutionOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/12315-how-the-mayo-clinic-is-setting-the-stage-for-medical-evolution
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