Mayo Clinic vs National Jewish Hospital Appointments

Hi, I live in the western Chicago suburbs and go to Dr. Naureckas at the Univ. of Chicago Medicine as my local pulmonologist (just started with him in the last two years). I went to Mayo Clinic twice in 2015 and was impressed by their organization and the time they took for each appointment. I got some good information about bronchiectasis that I hadn't received before. They did not mention ACT with nebulizer and saline, etc., which - looking back - is surprising. I was colonized with pseudomonas and it would have helped.
I heard about NJH and was still struggling with pseudomonas exacerbations so decided to schedule a visit. My first was in 2021. I've been there four times. While Mayo was impressive, NJH was amazing! Much more personal attention to your specific needs. Because they are smaller, they have the ability to pivot when your test results are different than expected. They also tested for things that Mayo never mentioned. Their weak spot is getting in touch with them afterwards. I think it's simply the volume of contacts they receive that make it impossible to follow up on. I did have a critical issue that needed attention related to a medication they prescribed and they jumped on the email, so they do read them. They just don't have the staffing to respond to things a local pulmonologist could take care of.
I Very Highly recommed you keep that appointment in June. You will be so thankful for their care and expertise! I hope it works out for you!

I've been to NJH for second opinion over a 8th month period and now I am planning on another opinion at the Mayo Jacksonville. NJH has some excellent pulminologists, but also have a new one I was not compatible with.
Be sure you get Dr Daley or Dr Kaspenbauer.

Thank you so much for the information. I live in the northern suburbs, closer to the Wisconsin border. Did you find any discrepancies with treatment plans from one doctor to another? I currently take albuterol via an inhaler and saline through my nebulizer, so I am unfamiliar with ACT, what does that mean? Have you been treated with the Big 3?

Failure to expectorate mucus resulting in progressive airway damage is the hallmark of bronchiectasis. Therefore effective airway clearance techniques (ACT) is the key step in its management.

Airway clearance techniques means getting the mucus and crud out of your lungs. Nebulizing is one way this helps. You are nebulizing albuterol to open up your airways and then the saline to thin the mucus to help get it out. The saline also helps make the lungs less hospitable to germs. Nebulizing with saline is usually followed by huff coughing to bring up the sputum. This is airway clearance. Other methods are postural drainage, exercise, and the use of the autogenic drainage app. People use whatever method or combination of methods that work to clear the lungs of mucus.

@lorrainewenn
Hi. How did your appointment at NJH?

@shelly61 Above @ pjas972 is a good read.
I also went to NJH in 2023 and highly recommend all that they do. It is a well run clinic. I had a medical tech with me on the trip up there and she was very impressed with the entire system in place. NJH has one of the two best labs for testing in the country for detailing the type of bacteria or fungus one might have.
Barbara

@lorrainewenn here's a video on airway clearance, by Dr. McShane, formerly of NJH.
https://m.youtube.com/watch

I feel like I’m in really good hands a Mayo, with both my Pulmonologist and Infectious Disease Doctors.

I have been to Mayo but not BE related. I went to NJH for my BE and NTM and for me it's been a game changer. My NJH ID doctor is Dr. Haas and she's amazing. When I went in May of this year, Dr. Haas was my doctor, and I was seen by her and a fellow almost every day. I was on antibiotics for 3 weeks before I went to NJH and they recommended I stop due to my low bacterial count and stable CT's. Some of my nodules were getting smaller. I'm assuming your CT's are showing progression. My local doctor ordered an air compressor and 7% saline, I nebulize twice per day and do Dr Paula McShane's airway clearance exercises either midway through or after nebulizing (or both). After NJH visit, I did switch to the Aerobika and Ombra compressor, which insurance doesn't cover but it's a good "health" investment. Hope this helps!