Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 16

Thread: Mayo Clinic Documentary by Ken Burns

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Price County, WI
    Posts
    1,789

    Mayo Clinic Documentary by Ken Burns

    PBS program... Lauds the benefits of group practice … "A medical democracy".

    The documentary explains Doctors Will Mayo and sons, Mother Alfred and Sister Joseph, etc.

    It is a proud history of the Mayo Clinic. It also takes a swipe at the inadequacy of the American system of "competitive medicine".

    Personally, I have always believed I would go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a second opinion, if I or a family member was up against disease. But the documentary suggests that it is not always possible to be admitted. Maybe I need to think about a Plan B.

  2. #2
    Senior Member iris lilies's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Always logged in
    Posts
    25,378
    I am too old to go around looking for medical answers, most likely.

    My sister in law did get an elusive diagnosis when she was in her 30’s, and from the Mayo Clinic. So it was helpful for her. Also, she was only a few hoirs drive from there. Mayo is important for us northerners, thatbis probably why you focus on it dado.

  3. #3
    Senior Member SteveinMN's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Saint Paul, Minnesota
    Posts
    6,618
    Well, there are other world-class cilnics in the U.S: the Cleveland Clinic, Mass. General, and many associated with top universities.

    I think the "magic" of Mayo is partly the high-quality health-care providers they can attract and partly a system that coordinates care among all the specialists, labs, etc. Too many patients are in systems in which every specialist sees only the body parts in which they specialize and overall care and coordination is managed by the patient (not their job as such) or the patient's primary-care provider (who is not in on what all the specialists are doing in real time and who has zillions of other patients to care for) or it goes undone. I have no doubt the Mayo system could be implemented elsewhere; if not within an individual clinic then within that clinic's overarching organization (like Kaiser in California). It's a matter of will -- and, probably, shaving a few basis points off the profit margin.
    Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. - Booker T. Washington

  4. #4
    Senior Member Teacher Terry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Nevada
    Posts
    12,889
    Mayo helped my dad at age 59.

  5. #5
    Senior Member CathyA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    9,116
    I know of a couple people who didn't get much help at Mayo or Cleveland Clinics.......... But I suppose that doesn't mean they haven't helped a lot of others.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    beyond the pale
    Posts
    2,738
    I also saw someone who said part of their success is simply due to the amount of time they will spend with a new patient. If regular docs are limited by insurance to 15 minute appointments, then a 2-hour complete physical and intake appointment will likely produce better outcomes if only because the patient gets someone giving their full attention for a longer period of time.
    I recently went for what's called a "well-woman" checkup. It's the free annual physical which includes the standard weight, blood pressure, basic labwork, listening to heart and lungs, a pelvic and breast exam (every 2-3 yrs) and questions about drug use, alcohol consumption, and unusual bleeding. Pretty standard, and pretty quick. No urinalysis, no skin check for cancer, etc. And before your checkup, the receptionist hands you a printed reminder that if you have any other issues you have to make a separate appointment.

    Having an extended appointment where you can cover the basics and also get any other issues or questions addressed is a real luxury these days.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    7,451
    IL, they have a satellite clinic in Jacksonville, Fl, so they serve Southerners too.

  8. #8
    Senior Member iris lilies's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Always logged in
    Posts
    25,378
    Quote Originally Posted by Tybee View Post
    IL, they have a satellite clinic in Jacksonville, Fl, so they serve Southerners too.
    Yes that is true, my sister in law works there.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    beyond the pale
    Posts
    2,738
    We have a Mayo Clinic here in Scottsdale AZ as well. It's where they do "Executive Physicals" for high-level leaders at the Mega Corp. I retired from. My understanding it includes a treadmill stress test among other things. Not your standard physical exam.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Phoenix
    Posts
    608
    I had my breast cancer surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. I received top notch medical care. My issue is with their somewhat heavy handed attitude about finances. It is a place for rich folks, or folks with good insurance. They don't take any insurance on the exchanges, which I had to transition to when COBRA ran out. They also were pretty insistent about how I needed to pay all of the money for the stuff insurance didn't cover much quicker than I can afford. I told them what I could afford, and I pay it each month. I can't afford to go back to them now. I'm kinda bitter, especially when I get the glossy requests for donations for 'women who can't afford care' when nothing was offered to me nor was I asked if I needed any financial assistance when I said that I couldn't come back due to insurance issues. The social worker just shrugged.
    Bad spellers of the world, UNTIE!
    formerly known as Paula P

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •