My Disappointing Experience at Mayo Clinic Rochester

I’ve debated whether to share this, but I feel a responsibility to let others know what happened to me at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I had high hopes and trusted the reputation of Mayo, but my experience was frustrating, expensive, and ultimately unhelpful. I hope by sharing my story, I can help someone else avoid going through what I did.
After struggling for several years with food sensitivities and a mix of troubling symptoms (some typical, others unusual), I submitted a request to be seen at Mayo. The next day I received a call from an intake specialist who reviewed my records in real time. She found something concerning and scheduled me with the gastroenterology department two weeks later. I was so relieved—finally, someone seemed to take me seriously!
I read all about Mayo’s “Patient-Centered Care” approach: a world-class team of specialists working together in one place to listen to your story, understand your goals, and provide a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan. Unfortunately, that’s not what I received.
I took time off work, drove over 8 hours, and spent thousands of dollars on lodging, gas, and preparation to be there for 5–7 business days as advised. I carefully filled out my health goals on the online patient portal and typed out a detailed page of my health goals and symptoms to ensure I communicated clearly with the medical team.
When I arrived, I had some labs done and then went to my first appointment in Gastroenterology. I waited an hour past my appointment time. A resident doctor came in, glanced at my records, and immediately offered a diagnosis. He was ready to send me home after just one additional test—far from the multi-day, multi-specialist evaluation I was told to expect. When I mentioned other symptoms, he dismissed them as unrelated (without much explanation as to how he knew that). I handed him my typed sheet of health goals and symptoms, hoping someone would take a broader look, while he stepped out to speak with the attending physician.
After a while, the attending physician joined us. He agreed to run a couple more tests but also downplayed my concerns. Again, I tried to share information about my full range of symptoms, and again I was told they likely weren’t related.
Due to delays in Gastroenterology, I arrived late for my radiology appointment. I was told no one had called ahead, despite the gastro team promising they would. Thankfully, radiology still saw me.
Growing uneasy, I contacted the Office of Patient Experience, explaining that only one department was involved in my case and that I had broader issues that might not be solely gastrointestinal. They said they'd look into it, but it could take several days. Meanwhile, I was losing valuable time and money—waiting without knowing if any other care would be coordinated.
Then, I got a call from the resident doctor with my test results. A few hours later, the attending doctor also called with results—but they were completely different from what the resident had told me. Worse, neither seemed familiar with the imaging results when I asked questions. The attending doctor also hadn’t seen the list of symptoms and goals I had submitted online and handed to the resident.
I asked for a referral to the Food Allergy Clinic while I was still in Rochester. He refused, saying they were waiting on other test results. I waited over two weeks for those results—only to be told that the lab couldn't use the blood samples collected during my visit. No one at Mayo notified me about this until I followed up. I suspect the test was never ordered, but I have no way of proving that.
Since returning home, I’ve stayed in contact with the Office of Patient Experience. They’ve apologized and promised to review their processes and “do better in the future.” I appreciate the acknowledgment, but it’s hard not to feel like it was a standard response.
Final Thoughts:
I truly wanted Mayo Clinic to be the answer—I believed in their mission, their reputation, and their approach. I trusted them. But my experience left me with no answers, two conflicting diagnoses, lost time, lost income, and thousands of dollars in expenses.
Please advocate for yourself from the moment you walk through the door. Don’t assume everything is coordinated behind the scenes. Don’t assume anyone has read your records or submitted information. Speak up early and often.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the care I expected based on the Mayo Clinic website claims. I hope you do.