Getting in the door at Mayo - located 1,300 miles away

Have the records sent and they will get reviewed. I've seen it in MyChart test results where an outside MRI was reviewed by one of their radiologists.

A lot of what you will be experiencing will be based on your cancer case. If you have a very aggressive cancer, then you should be working with a Genito urinary oncologist at Rochester. If you can get an appointment with Dr. Heath, you will be extremely happy about the results. She’s one of the best GU oncologist in the country. If you have metastasis, you Have a very good chance of being able to get an appointment with her.

There are a number of organizations that will get you free lodging if you’re going for prostate cancer treatment. The visit you’re making is The same thing. The American Cancer Society has lodging options.

Greetings,

I'm sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis, and I'm not sure that this next information is relevant to your situation at all, but I (myself) recently learned that the insistence on 'in-person' vs. 'tele-health' (or telephonic) consultations by certain treatment facilities (or their affiliated physicians), is often times the result of the health insurance provider, rather than the facility itself. For example, I was unable to get a recent tele-health visit with my original, out-of-state radiation oncologist approved by Blue Cross/Blue Shield (they insisted on 'in-person').

However, the Veterans Administration (i.e., VA Health), had no problem approving such a tele-health visit, and when asked why they would not approve tele-health visits (?), a BC/BS official subsequently explained (like it or not), that it was solely because my "out-of-state" doctor was not licensed to practice medicine specifically in my 'home' state.

That said, I realize that you may not be a veteran, or eligible for VA Health, but perhaps an alternative carrier might authorize it (?), because for me personally, as a similarly remote and recurrent patient, it does indeed seem a bit ridiculous to travel 2,600 miles roundtrip, for what is no more than an initial review and consultation, that may in-fact prove NOT to be your ultimate treatment location.

Steve, it seems insane to travel over a thousand miles to see a urology PA for fifteen minutes. If it were an oncologist, maybe. Do they understand your situation? Could you get in through oncology rather than urology.
I'm not much help.

@gently
We all help each other. Don't downplay your contribution of helping.

@jc76

Have you gotten an estimate in your patient portal. It may be cheaper to pay out of pocket for the video appt rather than fly there and back.

I thought I should update my situation so it might help someone in the future with the same predicament. I spent a long time on the phone with Mayo Clinic Urology yesterday. The upshot is that for a new self-referred patient, standard procedure is to set up an initial meeting, "in-person," with a PA. No tele heath video, although I don't know the reason. Despite messages that I left electronically via the Patient Portal that I was looking for an opinion about how best to treat my PCa, the "standard procedure" was followed in my case. The person I talked to yesterday was very sympathetic and helpful. She saw my attempt at communications and that I had an MRI, PET, Altera and biopsy ready to review. A few hours later she called back to say the appointment with the PA was canceled and that a doctor was reviewing my records and would follow up after that was done. So, no immediate 2,600 mile trip and a satisfying outcome. My advice to those seeking to refer themselves for cancer treatment at Mayo is to use the electronic system but also to follow up by phone with the department if things don't seem to be working out right.

I was treated at Mayo Rochester a little over two years ago. I did not have to go down there until the day I was treated with Tulsa Pro. The procedures may have changed, and it may have been different for me because I had asked to be part of a clinical study. I sent all my records electronically and did my initial visits by video. Good luck.

@n227rv Congratulations and good work being persistent, not relying only on the electronic referral system, and phoning to actually talk with someone in Urology. We have had good results when talking directly to their staff, who are generally helpful and compassionate. I suspect the new procedure is in place because the department, and especially Dr. Kwon, have gotten way too busy, which impacts both patients and the department negatively. Thank you for posting this really helpful advice for others trying to work with urology at Mayo Rochester.

A great lesson in self advocation. Your persistence will help you navigate the cancer circus.