@colleenyoung- Thank you for inviting me into this conversation.

Thanks, Colleen, for inviting me into this discussion, even though I haven't been a Mayo patient.
@mpflood7 - How wise to research this issue ahead of your visit!

I can share my story of care in the large multi-specialty practice I have been with for 45 years now in the Twin Cities, and contrast it with the care provided through an independent ortho practice I also use. Over that time I have dealt with many health issues.

Here is how the group practice collaborates - I have a primary physician, chosen after several earlier docs "moved on" to other practices. She readily acknowledges when a health concern is beyond her expertise and refers me to a specialist. Based on our working relationship, and her knowledge, she "matches" me with the specialist best suited to my problem and whose expertise and approach she respects. At times she has cautioned me that I need to travel across town to get better care as the local specialist is not the best one for me. It is important to me that she continues to study (she was recently certified in Gerontology - nice since I'm now older) because it tells me she is keeping up on the latest in medicine.

The specialists collaborate with my primary, and at times with additional specialists to plan and manage my care. When hospitalized, other than surgeons, the docs may not be in the hospital, and my care is overseen by a hospitalist who is part of the clinic team. He consults as often as necessary with my clinical care team as well as docs in the hospital.

Recently, I have been treated by my primary, pulmonologist, infectious disease doc, pain management doc, bone specialist, opthalmologist and a specially trained physical therapist, all of whom communicate to manage my care. Several of them have also called me personally to respond to questions sent by other team members or through the patient portal.

This same group managed my Mom's very complex medical issues, all the way through compassionate end-of-life care, and communicated with my sister and me through the entire process. My daughter was the case manager in the assisted living facility where Mom lived, and said her clinic was one of few that always responded timely to her when she left messages, and never required multiple calls to get a reply.

In sharp contrast, my ortho docs, whom I have chosen individually for their specialties in specific surgeries, are in a well-respected but not collaborative practice. When I had severe medical issues after hip surgery, the surgeon never responded to repeated pages and calls, and finally the hospitalist from my clinic stepped in and brought in appropriate specialists. When I asked the surgeon why, he said he knew they would "take care of it" - needless to say I never saw him again & filed a complaint. When my hand surgeon left the practice and I asked for referral to another, who would do a very specific procedure, all I got was a list of their hand surgeons. I had to call my hand therapist for a recommendation to the best person.

I hope this (long) description of how multi-specialty integrated care can work helps you in your decision making. If I did not have this practice to rely on, I would be a Mayo patient, and in fact at one point in my lung illness, the docs were considering referring me there.

I wish you good luck as you seek help - dealing with complex medical issues can be daunting. The added pressure of having only a single opportunity to choose a hospital makes it even more difficult. Mayo is truly a place for the best of care - when my daughter was a paramedic, she often met planes in Minneapolis and transported patients from all over the world to Rochester.
Sue

@mpflood7 Hi, and I too welcome you to Connect. You joined on my birthday! Sorry, I am a bit late in responding to you, I am not on Connect as much these days as I once was.

I live in southern NH and all of my care was here until I had an undiagnosed problem that went undiagnosed for almost a year and a half. It was finally diagnosed as non-alcoholic cirrhosis. My PCP here recommended me to one hospital but neither my husband nor I liked the doctor with whom we dealt so I researched and chose to go to Mass General in Boston. Now I have most of my care, other than my PCP there, except for my endocrinologist because I am certain I could not do better than him.

I chose MGH after looking at rating sites and learning about which hospitals are good for varying specialties, specifically transplants for me of course. You have had some great responses, and there are some excellent resources out there. I know US News was mentioned. I think their ratings are considered the gold standard for hospital ratings. Most years Mayo is #1 followed by MGH, and Cleveland Clinic in the #2 and #3 spots, with Johns Hopkins up there also, so none of those are too shabby. MGH has been tops in more specialities than any other hospital in the country also so that is also something you might want to check - how a hospital is rated in that discipline. Teaching hospitals tend to be the best I think if you live in an area where one is available to you.

Another resource that many people are not aware of is Medicare hospital ratings. You may not be old enough for Medicare but hospital quality is the same whether you are under or over 65. Looking at my own state, NH, and also Massachusetts, I think they are fairly accurate. I think that Mayo's MICT approach sounds great and tremendously helpful. When I had cirrhosis my symptoms were so varied I would have had no idea what type of doctor to go to. It sounds as if MICT would have been the best choice. I have a problem now also that has me befuddled and I am not sure what type of doctor to see. I think I will ask my transplant team if they have suggestions.

The other possible place to look is for ratings for specific types of conditions. There is a site that rates transplant hospitals, perhaps there are sites that rate other hospital specialities too.

I hope you can find a hospital that you really like and feel in which you feel confident. I think that's key, to feel confident of the doctors affiliated with a hospital. I very recently changed PCPs. I really like my prior PCP from a personal standpoint but I felt like he let me down a couple of times, that I had fallen through the cracks, so I changed. So far I am more confident in my new doctor. I will never have a rapport with her that I had with my prior PCP but my healthcare has to take priority.
JK