Mayo Clinic Patients Share 'Stories of the Heart' with Health Care Providers

Friday, October 21, 2005

The event will share patient stories with staff members who may not otherwise see the lasting impact they have on patients and their family members, says David Hayes, M.D., chair of Cardiovascular Diseases. About 900 staff members have been invited to attend.

"At Mayo, the patient comes first. This is part of the mission and our daily focus," Dr. Hayes says. "However, even though patients may primarily recognize their doctors or nurses or specific therapists, it takes a team to deliver their care. Everyone contributes to that team. 'Stories of the Heart' is an opportunity for everyone who is part of that team to appreciate the impact they have had on the lives of specific patients who will share their stories."

Four patient stories will be told through videotaped interviews. Three of the four also will attend and speak to health care providers. The story of the fourth patient, who died, was videotaped only; a family member was interviewed for this story following the patient's death.

Here are three stories:

• A woman in her early 20s died on Oct. 31, 2004, following a lifetime of living with a congenital heart abnormality. Her family never expected her to live to experience high school. Her mother credits surgery done at Mayo Clinic for extending her life and allowing her to enjoy life.
• A 51-year-old high school English teacher from Iowa had angioplasty procedures at Mayo. Today, this married father of three is doing well; he is a runner and a cyclist.
• A 55-year-old woman from a Chicago suburb came to Mayo seeking treatment for heart failure. Her kidneys also are failing. As a result of treatment for her heart failure, she was able to be placed on the kidney transplant list. She hopes to have that surgery at Mayo.

Note: The media is welcome to cover the event, and interview patients and staff members. Please contact Traci Klein at 507-284-5005 to schedule arrangements.

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To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. mayoclinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories. For more on Mayo Clinic research, go to www.mayo.edu.

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To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.