Mary Berman

Dr. Berman was impressed by Mayo's efficient care. "I spent two months somewhere else and could not get a clear answer about cancer. Here, all of my tests were in one place and everything was completed in a matter of days."

When a simple mammogram turned into weeks of frustration, Mary Berman, M.D., decided she'd had enough. After months of testing, her doctors could give her no definite answer about the suspicious calcifications found in her breasts. Dr. Berman wanted a concrete diagnosis--did she have breast cancer or not?

To remedy this problem, Dr. Berman turned to her sister. Months before, her sister had been frustrated by a slow-moving hospital system which stretched the diagnosis of her problem into a month-long process. Dr. Berman's sister finally switched clinics and urged her sister to do the same. Within a week, Dr. Berman had an appointment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Dr. Berman, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst from Michigan, had trained and practiced medicine at some of the nation's best medical institutions. Her experience was that, even there, patients needing services from multiple departments were frustrated by slow moving systems. "Even some of the best hospitals can take months to coordinate the necessary information so treatment can begin," says Dr. Berman.

When Dr. Berman arrived at Mayo Clinic, she was astonished at Mayo's efficient system of care. She visited the Breast Diagnostic Clinic in the morning, was scheduled for some tests after her appointment and met with a surgeon that same afternoon. Her surgeon, David Farley, M.D., came with test results in hand and was able to give her a diagnosis and discuss treatment options with her.

"Dr. Farley said my left breast had to be removed, and there was a possibility that the calcifications in my right breast could become malignant later on. After weighing my options, I wanted him to take both breasts," she recalls. "I didn't want to have the worry about breast cancer in the back of my mind every time I had a physical."

Dr. Farley approved the decision and the following morning Dr. Berman was prepped for surgery. Later that night, as she recovered in her room, she felt amazement at her experience. "I spent two months somewhere else and could not get a clear answer about cancer. Here, all of my tests were in one place and everything was completed in a matter of days. Even though I came to Rochester on a Monday afternoon and was back at home by Saturday evening, I never felt rushed. The physicians took all the time I needed to understand what they were saying. Everything was so easy from one appointment to another."

Dr. Berman attributes her speedy diagnosis and subsequent procedure to Mayo's efficient communication between departments. "I was absolutely mesmerized with Mayo," says Dr. Berman. "I could not believe how fast Mayo was able to transmit information. Patient information and test results were entered into the computer and sent immediately to other departments. It was amazing."

Since her mastectomy, Dr. Berman has had no pain and has been enjoying her retirement. She's been receiving follow-up care at home and reports, "My recovery has been wonderful. I've had no problems, no pain and I feel fine. In fact, not long after my procedure I helped my friend pack up her entire household!" Dr. Berman is still fascinated with her trip to Mayo. "I went to Mayo and had great fun. As a doctor, it was stunning to see how well medicine can be practiced."