Internal Mayo Referrals: How do they work?

@trissy,

When tests are order, the results are sent to the ordering provider, but available for any provider at Mayo to see. If you have a follow up consult in another area, normally it will only be with new provider, but provider often discuss information with other provider before or after appointment if related to original medical issue. And Mayo providers can see the prior provider notes.

Sometimes the name of provider will be added to appointment information closer to date. Recheck the portal in few months.

Hope this answered your question.

What Mayo location are you being seen at?

Thanks, Laurie!

I am being seen at Rochester.

I have been in the middle of work with two different doctors in two different areas both “ping-pong” me, and I am stuck in the middle utterly frustrated and confused.

I heard things are different at Mayo, and my case was complex (which I hear it’s another thing Mayo was great with), so I am trying to be patient, go with the flow. However, no one I know how Mayo works.

Thanks.

@trissy I've been a patient with Mayo Clinic for 5 years. I started with one dept. (Orthopedic Surgery) and eventually as other medical problems came up I had appointments and tests ordered by other departments. Mayo Clinic works on a collaborative model. Since all of your providers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester are with Mayo Clinic they all have access to your records and tests. In addition, when you look at your billing (or receive a bill) you get just one bill from Mayo Clinic. I'm going to share that once you realize how streamlined and efficient Mayo Clinic is you will be amazed and wondering why other medical systems do not work this way.

If you are "stuck" between two departments at Mayo I suggest you tell the scheduler that when you talk with them. The schedulers are excellent at coordinating your appointments and tests so that if you travel to Mayo Clinic many times your appointments can be scheduled close in date and time.

Does this help?

Thanks Helen!

Just to clarify the “ping pong” situation was with my local providers, not at Mayo. The situation was one of the reasons I was suggested Mayo by a friend who is from Minnesota (I am from the Pacific Northwest area). I never thought of ever going outside of my large city as we are pretty well covered, just I ended up being the “?” to everyone. It really sucks to be the “question mark” medically.

One additional question, I know my initial Mayo doctor submitted the referral request. How do you know if you got in? Is it just by the notification on the app that you have additional testing for that new dept?

I know there are a lot of more “experienced” Mayo people on this message board (which I have been a lurker for a while as I prepare for my trip to Mayo). It was very helpful as much as my friend and I prepared, we were absolutely overwhelmed when we arrived at the Gonda building…but at least I had my notes from what I could learn from the message boards.

PS.
It’s true, multiple people would just come up to us and asked “Are you lost? Can I help you?” LOL!

My experience at Mayo would prompt me to go to the doc who ordered your testing and follow up on what the process is and what to expect next. You can always ask 'what do I do next and when do I do it' and they'll make it super clear.

@trissy You asked this question:

"I know my initial Mayo doctor submitted the referral request. How do you know if you got in? Is it just by the notification on the app that you have additional testing for that new dept?"

Are you asking what happens within Mayo when one Mayo physician refers you to another Mayo physician? In my case here is what has happened. 1) I go to the scheduling desk on my out of my appointment and the scheduler calls the other department and makes an appointment for me or; 2) I get a phone call or a message on my patient portal asking me to make that appointment.

If this were me and I was waiting to hear from a department and hadn't heard yet I would call them. A front desk/scheduler will answer the phone and can access your records to see if the referral is indeed in their system.

Does this answer your question?

If you are being seen at Mayo by a surgeon but feel you also need to be seen by Internal Medicine, does the surgeon need to refer you?

@hsminc

You can ask for a referral, but no guarantee. Internal Medicine is extremely busy. You can call appointment desk and ask about availability, https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments.

Can I ask what type of surgery your having and reason you want to be seen in Internal Medicine?

I am not asking for myself but for a patient I have been working with. He has seen a wide variety of subspecialists, including subspecialty cardiologists, subspecialty neurologists, etc., They seem to agree (based on medical records)?that his medical issues are complex, serious, etc., but not readily explainable. Some tests show x while others contradict x. No one has offered any sort of comprehensive treatment plan nor laid out how disparate and similar findings fit together. He is exhausted and his quality of life has been affected. The controversial surgery he just had also fits into this picture.

I was in a constant game of “hot potato” as i like to call it, for years,
One dr would tell me that was a different specialist job, and passed on and on. I’m on my 3rd visit to Mayo this year, and I’ve gotten more help and answers in the 3 weeks total of been up here then I have in the last decade of “hot potato” doctors back home. They are great about working together!