How do I get on cancelation list?

@bakerranch88 Hello and welcome to Connect. I am a Mayo surgical patient. I did have to repeat neurology testing at Mayo that had been done by my local doctors, and they told me that Mayo would likely do their own nerve conduction tests because they do it a bit differently, and are more thorough. The accuracy of those results depends on the skill of the doctor correctly locating nerve positions. Don't be surprised if Mayo repeats testing. They did accept MRIs that I submitted in my request to be seen and did not redo them because they were current enough. For follow up after surgery, I was able to have X-ray done locally and mail the CD disc to my surgeon at Mayo.

The decisions about what tests should be done or repeated when you get to Mayo will be made by your providers there. However, if you have new information that may change the urgency of your husband's appointment, you can call the department that offered the appointment and ask them how to submit new information toward your case. Mayo schedules according to medical need and does give priority to more urgent cases. You could also ask your local doctor to submit a statement if it supports being seen more urgently.

If there is a situation that warrants the emergency room, please do go there. I don't know if that will change any of the admission process, but it could if it is a real emergency. If you don't live near the Mayo campus, that may put your husband in a position of receiving care locally instead.

The best advice I could give you is to call Mayo and speak with the department where he is scheduled and ask to be on a cancellation list, and ask all your other questions about testing and new information related to the urgency of need. You certainly can also ask his local doctors what to do. Do they know he is scheduled to be seen at Mayo in 2 months?

Does the neurology department have the "checker" system I've heard about where you just go the waiting room and "check-in" hoping they can fit you in at some point during the day? If so, where would I go to do this??

Hi @bakerranch88. In Rochester there’s a “checker desk” located in the Gonda lobby and admissions area where patients can talk with a representative, discuss what appointments they would like to get into early and the checker desk does the calling to rearrange the patients schedule. This is strictly for consultation not testing. Also, please keep in mind that not all departments accept checkers but the majority do.

To get some specifics, I’d suggest calling the Concierge desk where they can give you all the details on how to participate in the Checker program.
Phone: 507-538-8438
Live Chat: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide
Email: concierge@mayo.edu

Good luck. I hope you’re able to get an appointment.

Here’s a link to Mayo’s appointment request page: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63 Have you tried using the referral route

@bakerranch88, did you get all your questions answered from the tips and links that @jenniferhunter and @loribmt provided?

How is your husband doing? How are YOU doing?

@bakerranch88 Yes, you can ask to be at checker at the check-in desks where you are scheduled go for testing. I did my neurology testing a day early by being a checker. I waited a couple hours, and got the last appointment that day which I think was at 4 PM. Just go where your schedule tells you early with your printed schedule and ask to be on a waiting list. My tests were done in the Neurology department in the Gonda building. No guarantees that you can go early, but it is very common. I was also a checker on a different visit to Mayo for asthma testing. Bring something to read or do while you wait. There are some public computers in the waiting area that you can use.

It is a work in progress.... I'm convinced we need to see a neurologist, but mayo appointment for that is mid September. I have called at least 50 times and have been unsuccessful in getting that moved up. We did see a local neurologist, who in my opinion is an uncaring jerk. He told us my husband "shows signs of some kind of disorder", but gave no info on what particular disorder he thinks he might have. When we ask what we should do we were told he would order some blood tests (refused to elaborate on what any of the tests were or what the results would tell us) and scheduled a follow-up appointment 2 months from now! His condition has rapidly progressed in the last 2 months and shows no sign of slowing down. His advice about what before our next appointment was "don't do anything that might result in you falling and fracturing something"..... how totally UNHELPFUL!!!

Anyway, I'm wondering if I got a primary care doctor to send a referral to Mayo neurology department if that might get the Sept appointment moved up????