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  <a href="/annualreport/2011/mayo_effect/care_network.html">Mayo Annual Report</a>
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Mayo Clinic Care Network

Bringing Mayo expertise to more patients

Founded in 2011, the Mayo Clinic Care Network is a group of like-minded organizations that share a common commitment to improving the delivery of community health care — through high-quality, data-driven, evidence-based medicine.

The main goal of the network is to help more people gain the benefits of Mayo Clinic expertise without having to travel to a Mayo Clinic facility. Network members will have Mayo Clinic expertise at their fingertips, including the ability to connect with Mayo Clinic physicians.

Natural collaborations, formalized

"For many years, Mayo Clinic has enjoyed collaborative relationships with hospitals, group practices and providers around the world. By developing formal connections with high-quality, culturally aligned practices, the Mayo Clinic Care Network takes these natural collaborations even further," says David Hayes, M.D., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

Selection criteria

Provider organizations are selected for Mayo Clinic Care Network membership based on a rigorous set of organizational, patient care and quality criteria. Members must share Mayo Clinic's philosophy, commitment and mission to improve the delivery of health care. Altru Health System, which operates a hospital and several clinics in, North Dakota and Minnesota, was the first to join the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

"Altru's relationship with Mayo Clinic is based on cooperation and collaboration to improve the well-being of patients in our region," says Casey Ryan, M.D., president of Altru Health System. "Through clinical integration, we are proud to ensure our patients have access to the highest level of knowledge and expertise."

Ideas that benefit patients

"The providers of Altru are learning a lot from the relationship," reports Matthew Roller, M.D., Altru neurologist who has worked with colleagues at Mayo Clinic. "Together, we have the opportunity to innovate and improve outcomes. This relationship brings providers together to share ideas that ultimately benefit patients."

In December 2011, the Mayo Clinic Care Network added its second member: Kingman Regional Medical Center (KRMC) in Kingman, Ariz. "KRMC's relationship with Mayo Clinic is based on cooperation and collaboration to improve the well-being of patients in our region," says Brian Turney, CEO of KRMC. "We have been collaborating with Mayo for the past four years...this is the next step in continuing that collaboration, and we are proud to ensure our patients have access to the highest-level knowledge and expertise."

Building on technological innovations

Mayo Clinic's long-time commitment to technology has helped create innovative tools that develop closer relationships with community medical providers. Members of the network have access to eConsults — to quickly connect with Mayo experts for input on a patient's care plan. eConsults provide access to Mayo Clinic's disease management knowledge, including clinical care guidelines, treatment recommendations and reference materials. Another tool is AskMayoExpert, a Web-based information system that allows physicians to connect with expert clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions — day or night.

Reaching more people

Many health systems today have their eyes on acquiring other health systems or providers as a way to ensure more referrals. "Alternatively, the Mayo Clinic Care Network represents non-owned structured and formal relationships with network members," says Dr. Hayes.

"The goal is to offer more people and communities the benefit of Mayo Clinic expertise, while staying close to home," adds Dr. Hayes. "If a patient requires a referral, the patient and their Care Network physician will discuss their options. A referral to Mayo Clinic builds on an established connection with the Care Network provider, the patient and Mayo Clinic. As a result, Mayo can provide a seamless evaluation of the patient at a Mayo Clinic facility and all necessary care as a result of the referral."