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

They’ll review any/all of the relevant medical records you can bring with you from home. In my experience, they would not order unnecessary testing/exams and even if they recommend something you’re not comfortable with doing, you can always discuss and decline with the providers.

I brought all my test results with me, and for any imaging make sure to bring discs with the actual imaging so your team at Mayo can view them.

In my situation, they had prescheduled some testing that would have been more difficult to schedule, and I was concerned because I really didn’t want to repeat those specific tests or feel pressured to do so. It turned out I had nothing to worry about because they agreed it wasn’t necessary to repeat them.

Some things that could change might need to be repeated (blood tests, for example) or benefit your assessment to repeat them, but I found no one wanted me to repeat things unnecessarily.

Just make sure to bring the actual records/tests, and not just the reports from home. All the best to you!

I also cannot comment on pricing or the specific field in which you need help. I have always had insurance and regardless, I couldn't compare pricing between institutions. My experience of being a patient of Mayo for over 30 years is that I would always defer to them for my care. When I have visited other institutions, I often found great doctors but systems that were laborious and disconnected. Something as small as getting a lab order filled could be a long frustrating experience. I can't tell you how many times a doctor at Mayo has asked for blood work (or anything else) at a lab that is usually an elevator ride away. If an appointment is not available right away they usually say "just go see if they will work you in now"....and they usually do. I even had an orthopedic surgeon agree to see me the same day if I waited "on standby" because I had a flight the next day.

So in summary, Mayo ranks in the top of almost any field for medical results, and they are the least painful (most patient focused) system I have ever been in..... I don't know what that means in $$$s but I recommend them highly. Regardless, I hope you get the answers you deserve.

I never had to brought any copies of any scans etc. if your current medical team uses Epic all tests/scans will be there for them to see digitally in your portal. Or they can go find them. It speeds everything up tremendously. My Drs from home can also see all my Mayo tests and scans. So really no need to physically bring anything in anymore.

That’s true; my care team at home uses Epic. I had some important MRIs and several series of blood tests—over years—that were done at outpatient facilities.

And my chart is so dense that I was concerned it would just take too much sifting. I found it made much more of an impact for me to simply hand the relevant clinical note in question to them and they could look at it right then…instead of me trying to specify to them the year, speciality and physician I saw so they could see it. I’ve had that happen even with my care team at home where they’re scrolling and we’re eating time while they can’t find the thing they’re looking for while digging through the section for “additional media” and attachments. I didn’t want them to get discouraged because of the clunkiness of either doing that or pulling out a USB drive.

I wondered if it would be over the top, but the few times I went to the hard copies, I was really grateful I could because it made a difference and felt more impactful.

My second time with an evaluation (different clinic), I created my own packet of records with the pieces that I felt were most relevant and told my story. I had chosen the turn off Care Everywhere in Epic a while back because there are errors and misrepresentations in my chart that have causes physicians to stereotype me and in some cases they’ve used information in those records to decline to treat me. I didn’t want to risk that happening again, so I kept it off because I wanted to be the one to “present my case.”

I dropped the packet off a few days before my visit. This was years after my first visit there…so even more records and he felt more important to highlight the most important parts.

It was 55 pages, too big for My Chart and if I faxed it I imagined a huge pile on the floor. I was in town a few days early, so I just decided to drop it off.

Both times, the first time with hard copies from the binder, the physicians were really grateful. And the second time, the physician doing my evaluation was also very grateful and specifically said it was very helpful to have it in hand and culled down to the most important parts from my home care team and me.

But…of course it just depends on what you’re most comfortable with! (And if you’re somewhere that uses Epic.)

It is hard to say that you will not find an outstanding doctor who cares and makes you feel like you are important and #1. They are out there and there are many institutions like Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, etc. that are outstanding hospitals and care givers.

I have been a patient of Mayo Jacksonville since 2006. When I first came to Jacksonville Mayo they did not even have a hospital and used another hospital for surgeries etc. Slowly they build hospital, and many other buildings and facilities and now a very busy and outstanding care center. I can tell you that 99% of the doctors, nurses, and tech are outstanding and are clearly dedicated to the motto of Mayo Clinic: "The needs of the patient are our priority."

There are differences at each Mayo Clinic in what the can offer in terms of treatments and specialists. Mayo Clinic also restricts the number of Medicare patients. I have outstanding doctors and specialists. My primary care doctor (Mayo Clinic primary care) is outstanding and I see him as friend. Calls both my wife and I at home. But so do my electrophysiologist and the Pace Clinic techs.

I would not want to go anywhere else unless Mayo Jacksonville does not offer a specific treatment or specialty (and this has happened). The "patients first" will be quite noticeable when you come to Mayo but can you find that elsewhere most likely yes. Almost every specialist and doctor at Mayo Jacksonville came from another hospital or practice.

Mayo is a teaching hospital with a ton of research and high tech equipment. But just like anywhere even at Mayo Clinic you might get the 1% that do not meet that standard or maybe better said do not make you feel your needs are their priority. Mayo Clinic in that situation offers Patient Advocacy who will listen and investigate. Bottom line worth the effort to travel, and worth the effort to change. Again unless not possible I would not want to be treated anywhere else.

Mayo Clinic saved my life! U of Michigan some others wouldn’t touch my tumor. That’s all I can say!

jc76 (@jc76) I think your comment, "Mayo Clinic also restricts the number of Medicare patients" is misleading. Mayo doesn't accept Medicare Advantage plans.

@dandl48 @jc76 and others, the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare are so confusing. Some of confusion is untangled in these related discussions:
- Does Mayo Clinic take Medicare? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-mayo-clinic-take-medicare/
- Medicare and Mayo Clinic: What does Medicare cover https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/medicare-and-mayo-clinic/

Mayo Clinic accepts Medicare patients. Mayo Clinic is one of the largest Medicare providers in the country. Unfortunately, Mayo Clinic can’t honor all requests they receive from Medicare patients who want to come to Mayo Clinic. Medicare patients are accepted in all practice areas where there is capacity (appointments available) and, most importantly, as required by the medical needs of the patients.

If anyone is unsure about coverage, Mayo Clinic Insurance & Billing is available to answer your questions: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance

@dandl48 Mayo Clinic does accept Medicare Advantage Plans. The Medicare Advantage that is accepted depends on several factors including state regulations which are different for Florida vs. Arizona vs. Minnesota. It may also depend on the specific practice area, again, varying by state. I write this because I do know several people who have Medicare Advantage Plans and have received treatment at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

The only way for a person to know if their insurance plan would be accepted at the Mayo Clinic campus that they are interested in is to do the following:

Contact the Mayo Clinic Billing Department:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance
Contact their Medicare Advantage Insurance company such as United Health Care or Blue Cross/Blue Shield - whatever insurance company they signed up with to manage their Medicare.

I hope this this explanation is helpful to you and to others who are similarly confused about what insurance Mayo Clinic does and does not accept.

@naturegirl5 I stand corrected, it's Arizona Mayo that doesn't; here is an excerpt from an email I got from AZ
"We want to remind you that Mayo Clinic in Arizona is not currently in network for any Medicare Advantage Plans.* While this is not new, it is an important reminder: Medicare Advantage plans do not include care at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, even when the plan indicates that you can be seen at any facility that accepts Medicare."