Need Patients' Experience with Mayo Clinic. Is it worth it?

Hello --- I went to Mayo Clinic after not being happy with the information and attitude I received from a local eye clinic/ophthalmologist. I knew of a Mayo eye surgeon's reputation and working with my primary care physician to get medical records sent to Mayo I was accepted as a patient and was able to schedule an appointment with that surgeon. I had cataract surgery combined with half membrane corneal cell transplant surgery in 2018. All that sounds like 'star-wars' stuff when I talk about it in my area. At Mayo those procedures are readily performed...not a few times a year, but throughout the year. My surgeon is an amazing fellow and the staff that works with him is amazing as well. I couldn't be happier with my results. My vision improved from 20/60 in one eye and 20/80 in the other to almost 20/20. I'm seeing the best I've seen in decades. People from all over the U.S. and from overseas come to the Mayo Eye Clinic. Mayo is a huge organization, but I never felt lost in the crowd or like I was just another number. I felt the confidence and positive attitude when I walked through the door for the first appointment. I live 700 miles from Mayo Rochester and have ongoing e-mail conversations with my surgeon which saves me trips back to Mayo. My Mayo surgeon was more than happy to partner with a local physician for regular follow-up appointments, again so I didn't have to travel to Mayo or to my University Hospital which is 2+ hours from my home.

Travel/transportation/accommodations can add up if you have to make multiple trips and/or stay for an extended length of time. There are residents in the Rochester area who welcome Mayo patients into their home and support them as their christian mission. I know of two people in my area who stayed in a church affiliated facility and they were very pleased. If you do decide to go to Mayo check with your local churches and you may easily find access to those accommodations. Donations are welcomed, but there is no charge in most of those facilities. There is also a Concierge Office and a Travel Desk at Mayo Rochester to provide information. All the hotels around the Clinic provide complimentary shuttle bus service to the Clinic on a regular schedule.

I did do EFT (Tapping) a few years ago and it helped tremendously with a banged up knee from a fall. It was taught to me by a TaiChi friend and it was easy to learn. Goggle Gary Craig and you'll find lots of information.

Mayo Clinic embraces integrative medicine - a combination of conventional medicine/technology and homeopathic principles. You may find that philosophy much to your liking.

If you get a chance try to find the Mayo Clinic documentary that was produced last year by Ken Burns.

My thought and prayers to you .... L

Hello --- I went to Mayo Clinic after not being happy with the information and attitude I received from a local eye clinic/ophthalmologist. I knew of a Mayo eye surgeon's reputation and working with my primary care physician to get medical records sent to Mayo I was accepted as a patient and was able to schedule an appointment with that surgeon. I had cataract surgery combined with half membrane corneal cell transplant surgery in 2018. All that sounds like 'star-wars' stuff when I talk about it in my area. At Mayo those procedures are readily performed...not a few times a year, but throughout the year. My surgeon is an amazing fellow and the staff that works with him is amazing as well. I couldn't be happier with my results. My vision improved from 20/60 in one eye and 20/80 in the other to almost 20/20. I'm seeing the best I've seen in decades. People from all over the U.S. and from overseas come to the Mayo Eye Clinic. Mayo is a huge organization, but I never felt lost in the crowd or like I was just another number. I felt the confidence and positive attitude when I walked through the door for the first appointment. I live 700 miles from Mayo Rochester and have ongoing e-mail conversations with my surgeon which saves me trips back to Mayo. My Mayo surgeon was more than happy to partner with a local physician for regular follow-up appointments, again so I didn't have to travel to Mayo or to my University Hospital which is 2+ hours from my home.

Travel/transportation/accommodations can add up if you have to make multiple trips and/or stay for an extended length of time. There are residents in the Rochester area who welcome Mayo patients into their home and support them as their christian mission. I know of two people in my area who stayed in a church affiliated facility and they were very pleased. If you do decide to go to Mayo check with your local churches and you may easily find access to those accommodations. Donations are welcomed, but there is no charge in most of those facilities. There is also a Concierge Office and a Travel Desk at Mayo Rochester to provide information. All the hotels around the Clinic provide complimentary shuttle bus service to the Clinic on a regular schedule.

I did do EFT (Tapping) a few years ago and it helped tremendously with a banged up knee from a fall. It was taught to me by a TaiChi friend and it was easy to learn. Goggle Gary Craig and you'll find lots of information.

Mayo Clinic embraces integrative medicine - a combination of conventional medicine/technology and homeopathic principles. You may find that philosophy much to your liking.

If you get a chance try to find the Mayo Clinic documentary that was produced last year by Ken Burns.

My thought and prayers to you .... L

Hello --- I went to Mayo Clinic after not being happy with the information and attitude I received from a local eye clinic/ophthalmologist. I knew of a Mayo eye surgeon's reputation and working with my primary care physician to get medical records sent to Mayo I was accepted as a patient and was able to schedule an appointment with that surgeon. I had cataract surgery combined with half membrane corneal cell transplant surgery in 2018. All that sounds like 'star-wars' stuff when I talk about it in my area. At Mayo those procedures are readily performed...not a few times a year, but throughout the year. My surgeon is an amazing fellow and the staff that works with him is amazing as well. I couldn't be happier with my results. My vision improved from 20/60 in one eye and 20/80 in the other to almost 20/20. I'm seeing the best I've seen in decades. People from all over the U.S. and from overseas come to the Mayo Eye Clinic. Mayo is a huge organization, but I never felt lost in the crowd or like I was just another number. I felt the confidence and positive attitude when I walked through the door for the first appointment. I live 700 miles from Mayo Rochester and have ongoing e-mail conversations with my surgeon which saves me trips back to Mayo. My Mayo surgeon was more than happy to partner with a local physician for regular follow-up appointments, again so I didn't have to travel to Mayo or to my University Hospital which is 2+ hours from my home.

Travel/transportation/accommodations can add up if you have to make multiple trips and/or stay for an extended length of time. There are residents in the Rochester area who welcome Mayo patients into their home and support them as their christian mission. I know of two people in my area who stayed in a church affiliated facility and they were very pleased. If you do decide to go to Mayo check with your local churches and you may easily find access to those accommodations. Donations are welcomed, but there is no charge in most of those facilities. There is also a Concierge Office and a Travel Desk at Mayo Rochester to provide information. All the hotels around the Clinic provide complimentary shuttle bus service to the Clinic on a regular schedule.

I did do EFT (Tapping) a few years ago and it helped tremendously with a banged up knee from a fall. It was taught to me by a TaiChi friend and it was easy to learn. Goggle Gary Craig and you'll find lots of information.

Mayo Clinic embraces integrative medicine - a combination of conventional medicine/technology and homeopathic principles. You may find that philosophy much to your liking.

If you get a chance try to find the Mayo Clinic documentary that was produced last year by Ken Burns.

My thought and prayers to you .... L

Hello --- I went to Mayo Clinic after not being happy with the information and attitude I received from a local eye clinic/ophthalmologist. I knew of a Mayo eye surgeon's reputation and working with my primary care physician to get medical records sent to Mayo I was accepted as a patient and was able to schedule an appointment with that surgeon. I had cataract surgery combined with half membrane corneal cell transplant surgery in 2018. All that sounds like 'star-wars' stuff when I talk about it in my area. At Mayo those procedures are readily performed...not a few times a year, but throughout the year. My surgeon is an amazing fellow and the staff that works with him is amazing as well. I couldn't be happier with my results. My vision improved from 20/60 in one eye and 20/80 in the other to almost 20/20. I'm seeing the best I've seen in decades. People from all over the U.S. and from overseas come to the Mayo Eye Clinic. Mayo is a huge organization, but I never felt lost in the crowd or like I was just another number. I felt the confidence and positive attitude when I walked through the door for the first appointment. I live 700 miles from Mayo Rochester and have ongoing e-mail conversations with my surgeon which saves me trips back to Mayo. My Mayo surgeon was more than happy to partner with a local physician for regular follow-up appointments, again so I didn't have to travel to Mayo or to my University Hospital which is 2+ hours from my home.

Travel/transportation/accommodations can add up if you have to make multiple trips and/or stay for an extended length of time. There are residents in the Rochester area who welcome Mayo patients into their home and support them as their christian mission. I know of two people in my area who stayed in a church affiliated facility and they were very pleased. If you do decide to go to Mayo check with your local churches and you may easily find access to those accommodations. Donations are welcomed, but there is no charge in most of those facilities. There is also a Concierge Office and a Travel Desk at Mayo Rochester to provide information. All the hotels around the Clinic provide complimentary shuttle bus service to the Clinic on a regular schedule.

I did do EFT (Tapping) a few years ago and it helped tremendously with a banged up knee from a fall. It was taught to me by a TaiChi friend and it was easy to learn. Goggle Gary Craig and you'll find lots of information.

Mayo Clinic embraces integrative medicine - a combination of conventional medicine/technology and homeopathic principles. You may find that philosophy much to your liking.

If you get a chance try to find the Mayo Clinic documentary that was produced last year by Ken Burns.

My thought and prayers to you .... L

Hi @nycdave7 - I'm sorry for your experience which must be totally frustrating and scary. And I totally understand your insurance concerns. I can't add much to what has been said by @IndianaScott, @dawn_giacabazi and others. The one thing I would ask is whether you have seen PBS' Ken Burn's documentary on Mayo Clinic? If not, I would encourage you to view that before you make a decision. For me, and many others, the basic core values of Mayo are so different than those of other health care organizations that it would sway my decision if I weren't already a Mayo patient and totally pleased with every aspect of my health care. Here's a link:
https://www.pbs.org/show/the-mayo-clinic/

Mayo has just changed their patient computer system to one that does monetize procedures according to two doctors I know there. So they appear to have moved away from putting patients first and have joined the rest of the profit motivated system in this country.