Connect
Tips: Traveling to Mayo to get medical care safely during COVID-19
Medical needs don't go dormant and wait for the current pandemic to pass. People still need cancer treatment, heart surgery, diagnostic procedures, joint replacements, lung assessments, wound care and compassionate care. Some medical needs can be met through telemedicine, but certainly not everything.
Postponing nonessential appointments and surgeries in March allowed time to increase Mayo Clinic's COVID-19 testing capabilities. Mayo Clinic hospital and intensive care capacity meets and exceeds the current projected needs for COVID-19 patients, due to a revised, smaller expected COVID-19 peak. With these important favorable developments, Mayo Clinic is ready to safely treat patients whose care was delayed, in adherence with federal and state executive orders and guidance. Mayo is also welcoming new patients, and able to offer more phone and video visits to new and established patients. Read more about the new precautions Mayo added to minimize risk of COVID-19 transmission.
What can you do to stay safe when:
- Going to the hospital for appointments
- Traveling to a hospital out of your local area
- Staying at a hotel
- Getting food
What are your tips?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.
Connect
For those visiting Mayo Rochester , the following link from MN governor's office shows what is open:
Minnesota's Stay Safe Plan:
https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/stay-safe-mn/stay-safe-plan.jsp
Laurie
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsAnother tidbit for those travelling to Rochester Mayo - even when the restaurants first open for dine-in on June 1st, it will be patio seating only, and Minnesota weather is notoriously fickle, so maybe continue to plan for takeout or delivery.
Our governor is being very cautious, and we appreciate it because hospital admissions and ICU admits are surging in the Twin Cities and other hot spots.
Sue
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy husband was very immune compromised for several years when we needed to visit cancer centers for tests and treatments outside our community. We opted for a small RV which can be parked at the medical facility, sometimes even overnight. They are available to rent if you don't want to take the dive into ownership and actually cost about the same as staying in a hotel and paying for restaurant food. I recommend googling class B or C RVs for rent by owner in your area. A class B is no different than driving a regular van, but has a kitchen, bathroom, and bed. A class C is roomier and really not difficult to drive, especially if it is 24' or so feet and you don't try towing a car behind it. Owners registered through rental groups must adhere to strict sanitizing procedures between rentals, but I will do my own when I head to Mayo JAX for breast radiation for 5 days in June. When renting from an owner, prices are often negotiable, and may be decreased when they are advised of a medical need. Many owners are not traveling right now due to partial or total park closures so are renting theirs for at least the time being. I'm no real expert, but may be able to answer simple questions any of you have. For me, this is just the easiest, least scary way to travel right now.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsWe had Class C for several years to travel. Went all over US more than once and loved the convenience of it. And they just took up a bus size parking space when we made in town stops or at various tourist locations. Very easy to drive. That is a good option to put forward. Nancy
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@rosemarya, Yahoo throws my posts into spam...even with a filter set up...aggravating! Yes, thank you for that tip about starting driving again. I will probably go bonkers for sure trying to take everything in after being in place for so long!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactionfeisty76 - I was quite wobbly and agog when I first drove again after a month and a half or so of four-wall staring. Had to look at everything a little bit too long.
After driving 2140 over 4 days we arrived on Sunday. Today I had appointments with Specimen Collection (Covid19 sinus swab) and than a blood draw. I was very pleased with the sanitary cleaning that was done at the Specimen draw. As soon as someone got up, their chair was cleaned and anything that was touched also cleaned. This however was not the case in the waiting room for the blood draw; no one was cleaning the areas used. It was as if we were in a different hospital.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@dandl48 Wow, that's a lot of miles. What Mayo are you going too? I go to the one at Rochester, we only have t o drive 3 and1/2 hours from the Des Moines, IA area. It's the best place to go. I'm going to be having a Spinal Fusion there on June 9th. From T10 to my pelvis. It's a big and long surgery. At least they don't have to go through the front, just the back. I'll be glad to get rid of my pain that really makes me feel not do anything. I'm tired and The Tymlos make me more fatigued. It's to increase my bone mass.. What are you going to Mayo for?
@lilypaws At Rochester for Barrett's Esophagus and Prostate. I agree it is a fabulous Hospital. Best of luck with your surgery, quite a major one.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionAre you considering rescheduling travel that you put off because of COVID-19? Maybe you have work or family obligations or medical appointments that require you to travel. Yet worries about safe travel and lodging are holding you back. Get the facts about your travel options and learn how to protect yourself if you must travel.
For those times when travel is unavoidable, Mayo Clinic published this guidance on how to do it more safely:
Coronavirus travel advice https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-safe-travel-advice/art-20486965
What would you add?