Confidentiality at Mayo Clinic

At Mayo Clinic patient confidentiality is part of the fabric of our culture. Its beginnings date to 1907, when Henry Plummer, M.D., instituted use of the modern patient record at the clinic. Each patient's information was kept in a unique paper file, which was stored in a secure central repository. Each time the patient returned to Mayo, whether a week or a decade later, the patient's complete medical record at Mayo was available to aid in ongoing health care.

Dr. Henry Plummer

With the patient's permission, the data was also available for patient research. Use of patient data — with permission — has helped save lives, advanced treatment and quality of care, provided insights to prevent illness, and helped in educating both patients and future care providers.

Mayo Clinic researchers have conducted tens of thousands of studies using data from the more than 6 million patients treated at Mayo Clinic in Rochester since 1907. Mayo conducts research as a means to evaluate quality and improve patient care. That effort is shaped by Mayo's guiding principle, originally stated by Dr. William J. Mayo — "The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered."

For Mayo Clinic, the foundation of patient confidentiality is trust. Mayo Clinic patients trust that Mayo Clinic will "do the right thing." And when it comes to keeping that trust regarding patient data, Mayo spends millions of dollars each year to comply with and exceed government requirements.

Every Mayo Clinic patient is given a letter asking permission to use his or her medical records for research purposes. More than 95 percent of patients consent, demonstrating an appreciation for the value of research, and confidence in Mayo's medical record security and confidentiality practices.

Mayo sees confidentiality in three parts:

• Integrity, which focuses on the conduct and ethics of the institution and its staff.
• Privacy, which focuses on patient rights, and the use and disclosure of confidential information.
• Security, which focuses on the protection of data and people.

More than 100 policies are in place to guide Mayo staff members regarding confidentiality and privacy issues. For questions about confidentiality issues at Mayo Clinic, contact the Office of Patient Affairs at (507) 284-4988 or confidentiality@mayo.edu.