HJAR Sep/Oct 2021

Q&A subspecialists to ask questions about a patient’s care. The consultation is documented in the patient’s medical record. There is no additional cost to the patient. • AskMayoExpert. This point-of-care tool gives providers access to Mayo- vetted information, including disease management protocols, care guide- lines, treatment recommendations and reference materials. The information is available on desktop computers or mobile devices 24/7. • eBoards. Members can observe and participate in live, interactive video conferences where Mayo multidis- ciplinary teams and network mem- bers discuss the management of cur- rent complex cases. Current offerings include access to eTumor Boards, as well as the Inflammatory Bowel Dis- ease eBoard. • Inpatient Telephone Consults. An inpatient telephone consult is an infor- mal telephone conversation, provider to provider, regarding the treatment of a hospitalized patient that requires semi-urgent to urgent intervention. There is no additional cost to the patient. • Healthcare Consulting. Network members can consult with Mayo Clinic experts in patient care, human resources, finance and other admin- istrative and operational areas. Mem- bers customize their consulting plans to support their unique strategic priorities. • Patient Education Library. Members have access to Mayo Clinic’s library of patient education materials, which include 2,500 pieces in English and a select number in Spanish. • ArchivedMayo Clinic Grand Rounds. Presentations by Mayo Clinic providers and faculty address clinical care and healthcare delivery topics. Continuing medical education credit is available by viewing Grand Rounds offerings. • GIBLIB. This on-demand, streaming Mayo Clinic Care Network Q&A with Mark V. Larson, MD Enterprise Medical Director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and Provider Solutions Can you give us a broad overview of the Mayo Clinic and the genesis of the Mayo Clin- ic Care Network? The Mayo Clinic was the first multi-disciplinary specialty clinic in the United States, founded over 150 years ago and soon thereafter bol- stered by the creation of a hospital formed in a partnership between W.W. Mayo, MD, and the Sisters of Assisi. Our primary value was, as it remains today, that “the needs of the patient come first.” Today, the Mayo Clinic is comprised of three destination medical centers: Rochester, Min- nesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Scottsdale, Arizona. The Mayo Clinic enterprise employs over 5,000 physicians and scientists and has over 70,000 employees. For the last six years, as ranked by U.S. News and Reports, the Mayo Clinic Rochester has been the No. 1 ranked hos- pital in the United States for patient care. What is the vision of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, and has it changed over time? The Mayo Clinic Care Network (MCCN) was launched 10 years ago in an effort to deliver Mayo Clinic-derived expertise and services that could benefit providers and their patients throughout the United States as well as inter- nationally. That was the initial vision, and it has remained constant over the last 10 years. How many network members are there, and is there a common thread among the mem- bers? There are currently 37 domestic members and nine international MCCN members. The com- mon threads among members are that their cul- ture of patient care aligns with the patient care culture of the Mayo Clinic, they are high quality healthcare organizations, and they remain inde- pendent and locally owned and governed. How does a healthcare organization get in- volved in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, and what does Mayo look for in potential mem- bers of the network? Most initial connections grow organically through leadership or organizational connec- tions. Then, after initial mutual interest, a rigor- ous due diligence process occurs, which deter- mines if the healthcare organization is a good fit for the MCCN. How long are typical network agreements, and what is the pricing model? Membership in the MCCN is based on an an- nual subscription, with evergreen renewal, and is priced based on the market value of the tools and services provided. What is the renewal rate for the network, and is the network accepting new members? The renewal rate is very high each year. Yes, we are accepting new members in 2021. How are patients billed for the interactions? Patients are never directly billed for any tools or services, such as an e-consult or submission to a tumor board, that their local provider accesses through membership in the MCCN. Can you give us an example of the flow of a member interaction? All e-consults are conducted in an asynchro- nous fashion. The local provider submits the e-consult question(s), and then the e-consult is triaged to the Mayo Clinic specialist with the proper expertise in the area. The e-consult answer or report is then passed on to the local provider electronically. The Mayo Clinic physi- cian may call and connect with the local pro- vider to discuss nuances regarding the patient’s case but never directly calls or connects with the patient. That ensures that the local provider remains the patient’s conduit for their medical information. If the patient requires medical care that is beyond the scope that local providers can offer, then Mayo Clinic serves ready and willing to offer assistance for patients that re- quire complex care. What specialties are most likely to use the network? All specialties have access to Mayo Clinic tools, services and knowledge. This includes access to radiology or pathology overreads, consultations with a specialist or questions regarding policies or processes. Consultations involving questions about advanced care of complicated malignan- cies, involving medical and radiation oncology, seem to lead the list of e-consults each year, and this trend has accelerated the last couple of years. What do you see on the horizon for the Mayo Clinic and the Mayo Clinic Care Network? I see a very exciting near-term and also long- term future for clinically meaningful connections between the Mayo Clinic and MCCN members as new tools, products and services become available that can be shared with MCCN pro- viders and organizations for the betterment of their patients and communities. Mark V. Larson, MD, attended the University of Iowa Medical School, followed by residency and fellowship in internal medicine and then gastroenterology at theMayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic as a consultant in gastroenterology in 1989 and is an associate professor of medicine. He continues to care for patients and perform complex gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures as he serves in a number of Mayo Clinic leadership positions, including enterprise medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and Provider Solutions.