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May 25, 2020 | Rebecca Williams | @rjwilliams | Comments (6)

The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic is committed to provide care for all of our patients need even in these uncertain and challenging times.  Our teams are here for you, and together we will work to maximize your health and wellbeing.  Our outpatient clinics and procedure practices are open, and we are able to provide the care you need. We want to let you know what you can expect when you arrive in Rochester, Minnesota as well as on our campus.

Mayo Clinic is working with local businesses that serve our patients and caregivers in order to create a safe community for those who travel to Mayo Clinic for care.  When you arrive at Mayo Clinic you will notice that there are enhanced precautions in place to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors, and our staff so that we can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.  Some of these precautions are:

• Strict limits to the number of people on campus
• Carefully monitored entrance points and screening of all patients for symptoms and possible COVID-19 exposure before entering our buildings
• Universal masking required for everyone on campus
• Waiting areas are designed for social distancing
• Frequent deep cleaning of all clinical areas

For patients coming for endoscopic procedures, there are a number of specific precautions we are taking to ensure a safe environment. Two or three days prior to your procedure our appointment schedulers reach out to patients to pre-screen them, and this includes a PCR test to identify symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers.  The PCR test analyzes a sample of mucus from a person’s nose or throat to detect the genetic material of coronavirus.  PCR (polymerase chain reaction) causes an amplification of viral genetic material if it is present, and is considered the most reliable test currently to test for COVID-19.  Upon arrival at the check-in desk, further screening is done before patients are allowed back into the procedure area.

Enhanced cleaning of all entrance lobbies, the intake areas, dressing rooms, and procedure rooms (including air exchanges in between procedures), as well as the recovery rooms is completed.  Staff who care for patients in Gastroenterology and Hepatology are required to use protective eyewear as well as masking.  All staff in the procedure rooms don appropriate PPE.

Additionally, all Mayo Clinic staff who work on campus are required to monitor their health by taking their temperature twice per day and practice social distancing.