Hematology Mayo Florida: Looking for First Appointment Information

@yisabess, welcome. I added your question to the Blood Cancers & Disorders Support Group as well https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/blood-cancers-disorders/

While not hematology specific, you might appreciate the comments in these related discussions:
- How to best plan and prep for my visit to Mayo Jacksonville https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-best-plan-and-prep-for-my-visit-to-mayo-jacksonville/
- Visiting Jacksonville location as a first time patient https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/visiting-jacksonville-location-as-a-first-time-patient/

I'm also tagging members like @loribmt @johnra @5qdeletion @lisal64 @ckscckscoville @lindes who are hematology patients or Mayo FL patients or both to share their tips.

@yisabess, you are in good hands at Mayo Clinic. If you haven't already, please download the Mayo Clinic patient portal. You will see appointments start to appear. You will also receive a detailed Patient Appointment Guide with all the details of your appointments and what to do to prepare and what you can expect.

Have you downloaded the patient portal?

@colleenyoung hello and thank you! I have downloaded the patient portal. The receptionist (I believe) said the appointment could be an hour or 2 or potentially longer depending on what the doctor says. I was curious if it's typical that the doctor would run a bunch of tests and want me to come back the next or even stay there. I'm trying to plan for work and lodging

Now that you’re signed up for the Portal, you’ll see on the Portal if you have labs prior to the Hematologist appointment. Click on “Appointments” in the Portal to see good info - your entire “Itinerary” - and to see and record your Patient ID number. Take your printed “Itinerary” to your appointment.

You’ll be going to the Mangurian Bldg, for Hematology; the only building with decent parking without a long walk. Other buildings are very full parking with long walks, but there is a roving free shuttle to each building, for example the Davis, Cannady, or Mayo Hospital buildings. If you feel you need the shuttle, call the Mayo main phone number to ask for the shuttle phone number so you can call for pickup instead of hoping to see the bus at the designated bus stop at most parking lots.

Check in at one of 3 desks on the 1st floor of the Mangurian building. If you’re asked at registration to sign an ABN - as you probably know, your signature on that document is your promise to pay out of pocket, and the ABN should estimate the amount you must pay. Registration workers are loathe to advise you about why you’re signing that “Advance Beneficiary Notice”.

There is a large waiting room on the 1st floor where you have labs done -where your blood draw is accomplished. Plan to be at the Mangurian building most of the day if you have labs plus Dr. appointment.

There is a decent cafe on the 1st floor.

Your first appointment probably will include labs - don’t worry about timing - Mayo will get results to your doctor in time for your same-day appointment. We always have labs scheduled in the morning for afternoon doctor appointments. Yes, you could run into a second day, requiring an overnight, if something is revealed in tests that indicates more tests or immediate action. Always take an overnight bag when going to Mayo. Take bottled water; there’s a water bottle fill-up station near the 1st floor rest rooms.

Hematology doctors, NPs, nurses, and clerical staff are wonderful - always helpful in every way.

There’s a new hotel - Hilton Jacksonville At Mayo Clinic- on Transformation Way just around a big curve from the crummy old too-costly Marriott on the south side of the Mayo Campus. The Hilton is on the high side for cost but very much worth it. Ask for a room that gets good wireless; lower floors were hard to connect when I was there a couple months ago.

Your first appointment will feel like a success, no matter what you learn. The experience and feedback are outstanding. Best regards to you; it will be a big day.

@marco88 Afterthoughts…
At any hotel near Mayo Jax, ask for the Mayo rate, save a little. Beach Blvd. a short distance, has a lot of hotels. Avoid the Tru hotels; they’re grubby.
Valet parking is $8.00 not including tip. Most buildings have valet.

There’s a parking structure close to the Emergency Center; you can walk interior corridors all the way from Emergency, to the Cannady building, the Mayo Hospital building, and over to the Davis Building.

The Mangurian building is not connected, and is about 1/8 to 1/4 mile away from the Davis building. Not walkable from the Cannady/Hospital/Davis buildings unless you feel robust.

You can upload documents such as scan reports and labs, anything you want to upload from your computer, on the Portal by going to “Messages”, choose your Doctor by name if Mayo has populated your Mayo providers there…. then write a title for the Message, then look at the bottom of the Message window for “upload”.

If you can scan records onto your computer, this is a game changer in terms of getting your local doctor visit notes and local lab reports to Mayo prior to your appointment. BUT you may not see a link with your doctor’s name until after you’ve seen that doctor at least one time.