Tips: Traveling to Mayo to get medical care safely during COVID-19

@lannonvarnum

To answer few of your questions:
- It will be easy to find Gonda and Charlton, after you finish entrance screening, ask person to point you in right direction.
- The Mayo cafeteria is open with limited selection.
- The hotel staff where you are staying should be able to give you suggestions on what restaurants are delivering.

This web site has a link to Mayo campus map and other helpful info:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/campus-buildings-maps/mayo-gonda-buildings
Have a safe trip

Laurie

Mayo Clinic just posted a new video to their COVID-19 website that walks you through what to expect when greeted at the door.
See
- Your safe destination for face-to-face care https://www.mayoclinic.org/covid-19

@mpeters, @jerrynord, @roch fabulous tips for being on the road, finding accommodations, bringing food, and so much more. The travel planning requires so much more from us than before. When traveling with a compromised immune system, one can't be too careful.

@lannonvarnum I think many (most) restaurants near Mayo Clinic, regardless of campus AZ, FL or MN are equipped for take out and possibly also for delivery. For updated information on which restaurants are doing what and how (delivery, curbside pickup, etc.), I suggest contacting Mayo's Concierge Services. Here's how to contact them during Central time business hours.
* Phone: 507-538-8438
* Live Chat: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide
* Email: concierge@mayo.edu

Lawrence @lmindela, who works at the Concierge Center can tell you more.

@mpeters, Mayo supports full testing capacity in the event your provider orders additional testing. Some tests or procedures, but not all, may require COVID-19 testing beforehand to ensure safety. These will be arranged at each specific Mayo Clinic location. @danab can tell you more and share his experience at Mayo Arizona.

@mpeters HI - as far as safety in using the restrooms, while they have found evidence of covid-19 in fecal matter, I do not believe there is evidence of fecal transmission - you would have to touch the contaminated site and then your face or mouth. So...use good hygiene practices on your part.
That said, we just made a 1500 mile trip, through not only hotels, but many (questionable) truck stops and rest areas. We each carried a little ziploc baggie with sanitizer wipes into every stop, and wiped down surfaces before using. I finished the wipe down in restrooms by wiping the handle and seat of the commode before using. I also carried paper towels because I personally don't think hand dryers are very sanitary.
We (usually) travel extensively, spending many nights in hotels every year, and have always used our own sanitizers on surfaces upon entering. In addition we carry a small bottle of dish detergent to wash things and our own roll of paper towels, this time I added my own towel on which to set them to dry. I have never worried about using the plastic-wrapped glasses, the tissues or tp in hotel rooms and still don't. We do bring our own pillows, but our experience on this trip was that hotels are really working to keep everything clean and everyone safe. May I ask why you are bringing an air mattress?
If you choose to wear gloves, please remember that once worn they are biowaste and removed and need to be disposed of correctly or you risk contaminating yourself and others.
Safe travels!
Sue

Thanks, the gloves are cleaning only. I realize gloves are not recommended except in special circumstances like food handlers. I watched a Mayo podcast this morning with Dr. Poland, who is a viralogist. He said unless the toilet lid is down before and after using the toilet, viruses will be all over the room. It was in reference to stool. Air mattress? I would love to give that up. The bed is a soft surface, so virus should be gone within the three days that the room is empty. Do I have that right? I would still bring my own pillows and get rid of the bedspread. Dr. Poland says he sprays the bottom of his shoes when he comes home and they stay in his garage.

I’m replying to myself. Dr. Poland also said use a paper towel to open doors and to turn the water faucet on and off.

Here's the video that @mpeters is referring to. In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert, discusses effective cleaning tactics to combat coronavirus in your home that can also be used when on the road, in public spaces and hotel rooms.

@colleenyoung I tried to watch the video on enteringMayo, but it was too slow. Kept on stopping. Plus I see the doctor was wearing a ring. I had heard not to wear one it can get the virus in it. Wish the video had worked better. We are driving from the Des Moines area, so 31/2 hours. We usually stop to eat. Don't you think there will be someplace that's ready to serve or at least takeout? I guess we could take food along. We are staying at the Hilton so we will see if there's a place we can drive up to and get food. Thank you. Jeanie

@lannonvarnum Yes there will be delivery of pick up. We are staying at t he Hilton. Check in with wherever you are staying.

Thanks for all the hints and tips on our Mayo journey....so appreciated ❣️ Serranos

@lannonvarnum, Everything will be convenient and the complex of buildings are connected to each other. There are signs everywhere to direct you to your destination. And you can also ask when you leave an appointment, for directions to where you are going.
As you have indicated, the concierge will be helpful and will have the up-to-dare information to help you with your eating options.

A piece of advice from me is to take tote bage of some sort for all of the papers and medical information that you will be receiving. A water bottle and a sweater are a good idea, too,