Surgery waiting at Methodist: What's available for family?

@danandnan2024
Last time had surgery at Methodist was over 10 years ago, so not familiar with surgery waiting room, but familiar with Methodist.
- There is a visitor cafeteria on main floor (by elevators) , serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day. Someone might say it is in Eisenberg Building, but it use to be called Methodist, so do not get confused. Really looks like one building once inside.
- There is also a new coffee shop on main floor opposite gift shop
- Gift shop has some cute items if looking to browse.
- If want to leave hospital there are places to eat and shop in downtown area. Both on street level and in subway.
- I have not had any problems with any Uber drivers in town. Do not use often, 4-5 times a year, but have rated driver 5 starts every time.

What day is your spouse's surgery?

@danandnan2024, in addition to @roch's helpful reply, I'm inviting @marlysmae @loribmt @guidant07 @naturegirl5 @2gallonhabit to join the discussion. They and their family members are familiar with Mayo Clinic's Methodist Campus Hospital and may have additional tips to offer.

recharging stations? tv? I may bring a deck of cards for solitaire & a good book. Thank you

@danandnan2024 I've had two surgeries at Methodist Hospital and outpatient appointments in the Charlton Building. I don't know about the family waiting areas in Methodist Hospital. I can say that the Charlton Lounge (subway level) is my favorite spot to sit in all of Mayo Clinic. It is usually very quiet there and I enjoy the light that comes in through the big windows. The chairs and sofas are comfortable. I don't know if there are charging stations there but I do know there isn't a TV. With the available W-Fi I've used my iPad and watched shows while wearing my earbuds.

There are small booth-like areas at the Subway level between the Gonda and Mayo buildings. By charging stations do you mean USB charging? I don't know about that but I do know there are available outlets all over Mayo Clinic including the Charlton Lounge (Subway level) and the booths I referred to above.

I have also enjoyed sitting in the very comfortable chairs at the higher levels of the Gonda and Mayo buildings. Those chairs look out large windows and provide a beautiful view.

I suggest bringing earbuds and a good book.

Will you be staying in a hotel downtown? Where do you plan to stay? If yes, then you won't need a taxi or Uber although and there are shuttles to all the major hotels throughout Rochester. Rochester is very safe city and I would not hesitate to walk downtown after dark. As a woman I am very careful and so I wouldn't walk in any city by myself late at night.

I hope this helps.

@danandnan2024 The actual surgery waiting rooms I've been in have been a bit spartan - fairly standard chairs and plug ins on the walls behind lamps (I think there may have been lockers for possessions but am not 100% sure). In the one used for kidney surgeries, there was a Mayo person manning the desk who could answer questions / relay information from the surgical staff. It's a very quiet atmosphere so if you have small children with you, it might not be a good fit. I think you can give your cell number and they can contact you with updates when needed (if you decide to venture out).

if the surgery is long, I would definitely take @naturegirl5's advise and check out the lounges on subway level. And I've brought my work computer and plugged in at the long table in front of one of the cafeteria's entrances. Plus there's a computer lounge you can use.

Ubers I've taken have been safe and I've also used Rochester Taxi - you can schedule rides ahead of time and no fee for doing so.

Another nice lounge area is between Methodist campus and Gonda building in subway level. Attached map shows area I am talking about. Only minutes away from hospital.

When I had gyn/onc surgery in 2/23, my husband gave the team his cell phone. They sent him updates when I went in to surgery, during, when I had been taken to recovery and when he could re-join me. Sitting wasn't going to help him manage his anxiety, so he went shopping at the food co-op off campus. When I returned to our hotel (connected to the hospital by tunnels under the road so he could just wheel me back afterward...a good thing, since there were near-blizzard conditions by the time I was released), it was clean and organized (wow!), there were two bouquets of flowers and a (welcome) box of popsicles. You don't have to sit still while you wait if that doesn't work for you.

I see you've received some excellent advice about comfy waiting areas. If you can take your mind off your loved one for a bit, don't miss all the art that Mayo has. You'll see examples of it everywhere you go. I think they have a pamphlet describing their collection. And if you have time check out all the tours of the campus they offer.
https://history.mayoclinic.org/tours-events/tours-of-mayo-clinic/

Take a stroll over to Gonda and see the Dale Chihuly glass. View it from both the Lobby and Subway level. Never disappoints.

See the historic doors, I believe are on the architecturally significant Plummer Building, they are beautiful. Weather permitting, stretching your legs in the several gardens is soothing during this highly anxious time. The garden by the Gonda Building has statues and plaques noting the Mayo Clinic history. Between tests and interviews, strolling around helped take my obsessive mind off of upcoming surgery. Husband found it better than "just sitting there" while I was in surgery.