Second Opinions: How do I get one at Mayo Clinic out-of state?

Welcome to Connect @cbower75 It’s very frustrating when you feel you have a potential health issue and not getting answers. I’m a ‘frequent flyer’ to the hematology department at Mayo Rochester and credit them for saving my life. I’m obviously a little biased but I’d encourage you to get a second opinion from them. From my experience, I have had Tele-health visits as it’s part of their patient care services when needed.

Here’s a link to information about Tele-health if your interested. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878

But this is the link you should click if you’d like to get the ball rolling to request an appointment. This takes you to the Mayo home page where you can follow the prompts it contact the clinic.

If you don’t mind sharing, what are your concerns? Do you have a blood condition or symptoms that haven’t been diagnosed?

My husband has recently been diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. He has a hematologist/oncologist who currently has five patients with Waldenstroms but has never treated it. His other patients have been on watch and wait or have been treated in the past by different MD’s but don’t need treatment now. My husband is in the watch and wait category. We both are a little concerned about the physicians lack of experience in treating it but we are also living a long way away from any Mayo Clinic.
My question is when he needs treatment is there a way to get a second opinion on that aspect without a physical appointment?

Welcome to Connect, @vgdmayo I really can’t answer as to whether or not your husband could get a second opinion without being seen in person. Each person’s situation is unique to them. But I do know of a couple of people who have had their second opinion via Tele-health after a doctor at Mayo was able to review their blood work and tests from an outside source.

I can understand your hesitancy with having your husband’s doctor not being very familiar with WM and not a clear track record on how to treat. I’d get a second opinion too!
Instead of waiting until your husband does require treatment you could have that second opinion before/if his condition progresses. That way you have time to make decisions without urgency.

The best way to find out is to give Mayo a call. Or go online to this site: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

There are 3 locations for clinics: Rochester, Minnesota
Central Appointment Office
507-538-3270
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time
Monday through Friday

Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona
Central Appointment Office
480-301-8484
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain time
Monday through Friday

Jacksonville, Florida
Central Appointment Office
904-953-0853
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time
Monday through Friday

We have several discussions in the forum with other WM members. This would be a good place to begin:

Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia With members @ejrquast @mrgreentea @artmulh @champ9810 and many others how have WM.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/waldenstrms-macroglobulinemia/

A little more info for you:
https://www.healthline.com/health/macroglobulinemia-of-waldenstrom

Also an excellent source of information is the International WM foundation: https://iwmf.com/

If Mayo isn’t convenient, do you live near a larger teaching clinic/hospital?

Thank you for the information. It is so nice to be able to ask a question and get such an immediate response!
The closest teaching hospital to us is Oregon Health Science University. We have looked at a Waldenstroms provider list from a Facebook group my husband found but can’t seem to get a call back from the doctor in Eugene after three tries. Everyone is busy I suppose. He was the only physician listed in Oregon.
I will explore the links you provided. Thanks again for your time.

It’s so frustrating to not hear back from the doctor’s office that you contacted. Usually a larger cancer center has more experience with some of the less common cancer treatments than a local oncology clinic.
Let me bring @gingerw into this conversation. She lives in Oregon and is seen at an oncology center in Eugene. Maybe she might have a few more ideas for you about who to contact in a larger facility. Would the Oregon Health Science University be out of question for you for a 2nd opinion?

@cbower75, I wanted to check in with you. @loribmt gave you solid information, including the link to submit a request for a second opinion here http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

In regards to your question re getting a telemedicine: Mayo Clinic welcomes both new and existing patients for virtual and in-person care in adherence with federal and state executive orders and guidance. Virtual care is available for out-of-state patients IF the provider you are seeing is licensed in the state where you live.

When submitting your request, let them know that you are interested in a virtual appointment.

@vgdmayo Thanks to @loribmt for tagging me in this conversation. OHSU, going to their website, gave me this information for drs there treating the condition your husband has: https://www.ohsu.edu/health/find-a-doctor/search?accepting=&age_group=&distance=&gender=&insurance=&language=&location=&online=&pcp=&shuffle_seed=PS-66089c29a76a25.04961389&sort=&term=waldenstroms%20macroglobulinemia&vector_name=&vector_value=

I am a patient at Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center, in Eugene. They have several locations. I plugged in your husband's condition and here is the result of the doctors who treat it, and the locations they are at: https://www.oregoncancer.com/physicians?specialty=&special_interest=Lymphoma&location=

I am biased, and admit that. I have been a patient for 5 years, and feel grateful to have Dr. Yasenchak as my oncologist. By the way, he was a Mayo Clinic resident doctor before he moved out here 8 years ago, and still keeps in touch with his colleagues.

If I can be of any further help, please let me know! As a fellow blood cancer patient, we know the frustration of getting a great medical team in our corner.
Ginger

Yes thank u

Yes thank you

Thank you