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Need Patients' Experience with Mayo Clinic. Is it worth it?
Hello, I was wondering if there is a substantial difference in quality between a top 1 hospital compared to a top 10 or 20 hospital in the nation. So I am a 25 year old, 135 lbs, 5'10'' male who eat well, sleep well, and exercise. 2 Years ago, I had laser eye surgery where I was a very healthy individual have not gotten sick or the cold for 14 years. Part of the recovery regimen was using corticosteroids for 6 weeks and I developed systemic effects. Immediately, I had the swollen face & angioedema. One month later, I had a blood pressure of 160/100 with a heart beat of 100 at rest. Stopped since then (a bit over 2 years) and I still have the symptoms ( chest pain, headaches, light headedness , and concentration problems). I went through various doctors (about 25), including endocrinologists and neurosurgeons at Weill Cornell, Mt. Sinai, and NYU Langone in addition to private practices. I have some lab tests that showed slight to moderate elevated cortisol levels via. the 24 hour urine cortisol test and midnight salivary test. The doctors here seem to not care and are not really helping. i was wondering if it is worth the time and money to go out of network to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minnesota or keep on trying in NYC. Losing hope and starting to get depressed.I have also had 1 slightly elevated reading of ACTH and morning Serum cortisol
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Mayo is our "Number One", but Cleveland (in Cleveland), Hopkins, M D Anderson, Loyola Chicago and I am sure others probably make the grade too. Cleveland it very much like Mayo Rochester....spread around Cleveland metro, so a little less cohesive. We have been doing "MAYO Jax" since it was a "mud hut" on the southeast side of Jax in the late 80s...... We have watched it grow from the original "Dirty 30" (the humorous name of the group of 30 docs who opened JAX). to a monumental campus with staff and facilities second to none.
As the is it "worth" it, that is a loaded question and can only be answered by you. Will you get the best results possible (not necessarily what you "wanted"), does the staff provide the highest standards of care,....could go on but like beauty, value is only in the eyes of the beholder. Expectations and value/outcome are not always aligned. No provider can fix what "can't be fixed". Ultimately it's "best outcome for the situation". In our book, Mayo exceeds our expectations and has provided positive outcomes, some not perfect, but the best under the circumstances. One GIANT point to remember and keep in perspective...."YOU are in charge of your own health" and how you approach that fact will be a large contributor to outcome and value.......
Last comments and my usual admonition..... Check emotions at the curb. Be prepared (all records gathered and in your possession including test results and imaging). Be Patient. MAYO is a limited resource due to their demands for "the best of the best" for staffing. Be polite. You may or may not immediately get "what you want when you want it".....again resources. Be fully flexible....as our Mayo physicians and their staff know "We are on MAYO Time, not our time" and go with what ever flow they provide. Have your finances sorted out......and not from this or any other social media or other forums. Contact Mayo's financial office directly to determine if your financial resources (i.e. insurance) are accepted by MAYO (this is a topic that has been beaten do an unrecognizable hulk on this forum). Fact is Mayo does not accept all type, forms or insurance carriers or specific policies. A single provider may have various policies and because "your friend has the same "company", they may not have the same specific and accepted coverage........ This all leads back to "YOU are in charge of your own health" and the "business" aspect of it is on you......not the provider....
Yes is the answer to the question...Is Mayo worth it?........if you go in eyes wide open and as a willing and productively active participant..... End of pseudo Rant....
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7 ReactionsOh, I will add this. This (Going to Mayo) forums should not be a repository of all your history, conditions, medical information, treatments,....your personal life. These forums provide the best answers when the questions are clear and concise......i.e. "Opinion on receiving care at Mayo Clinic compared to other centers of excellence"....or similar. There are many sub-groups and help groups directed at specific ailments, treatments,
This and other forums are VERY public and putting all this "personal/medical information out their on the really is not a good and safe thing...... JMNSHO.....
Yes, Mayo is worth it. We live several states away from Mayo and would, and have, fly there in a heartbeat if we needed to.
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4 Reactions@gangcarotid1
Hard to get into Mayo Jacksonville as has expanded so much with so many more specialties. I just spent 4 days there with specialist trying to find out what is causing tachycardia. I think what is important to me is the team approach at Mayo.
I was seen by hospital doctor, cardiology doctor, and electrophysiologist every day. The nurses were outstanding and when I pushed the button for assistance it was within minutes.
Mayo is very expensive. I was grandfathered in because was a patient prior to going on Medicare. When I see what Medicare allows at Mayo I am shocked and realize why they have to limit the number of patients on Medicare.
If anyone asked is Mayo worth it, I quickly answer yes. Their motto is "patient first" and that has been my experience there since 2006.
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4 Reactions@gangcarotid1
Hi there, I am very pleased to know your experience with Mayo Rochester wishing you congratulations doing good!
May I ask what would be the waiting time for a first appointment? Do I need to wait a week or a month?
Also I am considering to go to Rochester for a possible lung cancer surgery but Mayo is not on my insurance in network therefore what could be the medical cost based on your experience?
Thank you so much!
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1 ReactionDepending on the rarity and/or criticality of your medical issue, my guess would be sooner for more complex issue; but I cant say that for sure. Mayo doesn't accept everyone who applies to be a patient. The triage team that reviewed my request took 2- 1/2 days to review my request whether to be seen by them, and my 1st appt was within 10 days.
I don't have lung cancer, and all insurances have different allowances for the same surgeries, so I don't have any idea what your costs would be. I can say that the amounts charged to my insurances for all the plethora of tests and procedures Ive had done seem to be roughly in the same amounts as what it costs at home, like CT & MRI cans, blood draws, anesthesia, hospital daily costs, office visits. Medical care is EXPENSIVE, for sure!
Best wishes to you with your care.
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3 Reactions@gangcarotid1
Thank you so very much, very helpful!
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4 Reactions@mingyue, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
I am glad to see you commented and have received valuable information from @gangcarotid1.
Every department, every patient is different so the best way to find out more about how Mayo Clinic, MN can help you is to contact them directly. Please use this link: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
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3 Reactions@jlharsh
So many thanks for the link, very useful! Mayo connect is awesome.
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5 Reactions@mingyue You are welcome. I am glad you feel encouraged and hope the information helps.
Please come back and post an update as to what you find out.
You mention lung cancer, possibly surgery. What other information will help you, and have you been able to plug into other discussions on Connect that will help you navigate your health?
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