Mayo Clinic vs National Jewish Hospital Appointments

Hi, I live in the western Chicago suburbs and go to Dr. Naureckas at the Univ. of Chicago Medicine as my local pulmonologist (just started with him in the last two years). I went to Mayo Clinic twice in 2015 and was impressed by their organization and the time they took for each appointment. I got some good information about bronchiectasis that I hadn't received before. They did not mention ACT with nebulizer and saline, etc., which - looking back - is surprising. I was colonized with pseudomonas and it would have helped.
I heard about NJH and was still struggling with pseudomonas exacerbations so decided to schedule a visit. My first was in 2021. I've been there four times. While Mayo was impressive, NJH was amazing! Much more personal attention to your specific needs. Because they are smaller, they have the ability to pivot when your test results are different than expected. They also tested for things that Mayo never mentioned. Their weak spot is getting in touch with them afterwards. I think it's simply the volume of contacts they receive that make it impossible to follow up on. I did have a critical issue that needed attention related to a medication they prescribed and they jumped on the email, so they do read them. They just don't have the staffing to respond to things a local pulmonologist could take care of.
I Very Highly recommed you keep that appointment in June. You will be so thankful for their care and expertise! I hope it works out for you!

I've been to NJH for second opinion over a 8th month period and now I am planning on another opinion at the Mayo Jacksonville. NJH has some excellent pulminologists, but also have a new one I was not compatible with.
Be sure you get Dr Daley or Dr Kaspenbauer.

Thank you so much for the information. I live in the northern suburbs, closer to the Wisconsin border. Did you find any discrepancies with treatment plans from one doctor to another? I currently take albuterol via an inhaler and saline through my nebulizer, so I am unfamiliar with ACT, what does that mean? Have you been treated with the Big 3?

Failure to expectorate mucus resulting in progressive airway damage is the hallmark of bronchiectasis. Therefore effective airway clearance techniques (ACT) is the key step in its management.

Airway clearance techniques means getting the mucus and crud out of your lungs. Nebulizing is one way this helps. You are nebulizing albuterol to open up your airways and then the saline to thin the mucus to help get it out. The saline also helps make the lungs less hospitable to germs. Nebulizing with saline is usually followed by huff coughing to bring up the sputum. This is airway clearance. Other methods are postural drainage, exercise, and the use of the autogenic drainage app. People use whatever method or combination of methods that work to clear the lungs of mucus.