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Navigating Mayo Clinic

Posted by brenb @brenb, Jun 13, 2018

My parent is coping with an undiagnosed autonomic disease and has visited Mayo clinics 2x within the last 3mos now. Unfortunately, it seems that they only receive information through "the portal" and the specialty doctor is unavailable to have phone conversations (my parent lives in a remote part of the country & Dr. is in FL). Is this typically the case, or can I help them talk directly with the doctor? I believe navigating the "portal" is a difficult challenge for an aging generation and I know talking directly with the doctor after diagnosis would help tremendously.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 14, 2018

Hi @brenb -- I responded to your question in another discussion but will just mention it again here. If it were me, I would talk with my parent and see if I could log into their patient portal for them. That would give you the means to be their advocate and allow you to let the doctors know who you are and that you are trying to help them navigate the Mayo Clinic system. Thank you for being their advocate!

John

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2 replies
Mentor
Scott, Volunteer Mentor | @IndianaScott | Jun 14, 2018

Hello @brenb I am sorry to read of your parent's health issues, but it is nice to e-meet you here. I am Scott and I can say I agree with @johnbishop about helping your parent navigate the system. I was my wife's caregiver during her 14+ year healthcare battle and one of the very best things we decided upon was her giving Mayo HIPPA approval for our adult children and myself. This allowed us to get the same information as was being given to her, ask questions, and participate in a more meaningful and immediate manner. It also was wonderful that we all were receiving the same messages and not having to rely on info being relayed and perhaps misinterpreted.

I cannot speak to the style issues with how our parent's physician is communicating, but can say, again in my own case, almost all of my current doctors now communicate with me via electronic means and records.

Scott

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1 reply
brenb | @brenb | Jun 14, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @brenb -- I responded to your question in another discussion but will just mention it..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @brenb -- I responded to your question in another discussion but will just mention it again here. If it were me, I would talk with my parent and see if I could log into their patient portal for them. That would give you the means to be their advocate and allow you to let the doctors know who you are and that you are trying to help them navigate the Mayo Clinic system. Thank you for being their advocate!

John

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for posting in both discussions- I appreciate it and will talk with my parent and see if i can login thru the portal to better help them.

REPLY
brenb | @brenb | Jun 14, 2018
In reply to @IndianaScott "Hello @brenb I am sorry to read of your parent's health issues, but it is nice..." + (show)
@IndianaScott

Hello @brenb I am sorry to read of your parent's health issues, but it is nice to e-meet you here. I am Scott and I can say I agree with @johnbishop about helping your parent navigate the system. I was my wife's caregiver during her 14+ year healthcare battle and one of the very best things we decided upon was her giving Mayo HIPPA approval for our adult children and myself. This allowed us to get the same information as was being given to her, ask questions, and participate in a more meaningful and immediate manner. It also was wonderful that we all were receiving the same messages and not having to rely on info being relayed and perhaps misinterpreted.

I cannot speak to the style issues with how our parent's physician is communicating, but can say, again in my own case, almost all of my current doctors now communicate with me via electronic means and records.

Scott

Jump to this post

Thanks @IndianaScott...nice to meet you here as well. Good to know that the Drs communicate via electronic records and that access to the portal can help me follow diagnosis etc.

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jodeej | @jodeej | Jun 15, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @brenb -- I responded to your question in another discussion but will just mention it..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @brenb -- I responded to your question in another discussion but will just mention it again here. If it were me, I would talk with my parent and see if I could log into their patient portal for them. That would give you the means to be their advocate and allow you to let the doctors know who you are and that you are trying to help them navigate the Mayo Clinic system. Thank you for being their advocate!

John

Jump to this post

@brenb it it's great that you want to advocate for your parent. As his caregiver, I am the main user of my husband's patient portal. As long as your parent has signed a release of information the doctor and nurses can answer all your questions. Plus, it will be helpful for you to be able to read the notes from the visits.
Blessings,
JoDee

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jodeej | @jodeej | Jun 19, 2018

@brenb have you made any progress on the patient portal? There is a new learning curve for us with the updates. It will be interesting to see how it changes things this trip.
Blessings,
JoDee

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