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Teamwork: More than Just Words
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Teamwork at Mayo Clinic; it is more than just a word. It’s the very foundation of who we are. Although Dr. William J. (a.k.a. Dr. Will) Mayo and Dr. Charles H. (a.k.a. Dr. Charlie) Mayo were brothers, they were also a committed team who worked closely with each other to care for their patients. They knew and understood the importance of working as a team, long before it became a buzz word and the business world started extolling its value.
As a team, Drs. Will and Charlie always put the needs of their patients first. That approach continues today. Providing for the needs of our patients includes not only the primary physician, but also the skills and experiences of other physicians and medical professionals, volunteers, desk attendants, general service and others, many of whom provide expertise and assistance behind the scenes.
Consider, for example, the care provided to heart or lung transplant patients. When providing the best treatment options or searching for a diagnosis, Mayo Clinic physicians “team” with other specialists and health professionals to care for their patients. These professionals include, but are not limited to:
- Sonographer
- Radiographer
- Radiation therapist
- Pharmacy resident
- Pharmacy technologist
- Dietitian
- Nurse anesthetist
- Physician assistant
- Respiratory therapist
- Physical therapist
- Social worker
- Cardiovascular technologist
- Surgical technologist
- Clinical laboratory Scientist
- Nurse practitioner
Before beginning their careers, these individuals studied extensively and spent hours in the classroom and in labs perfecting their skills at an accredited institute of higher learning. Many have taken national exams or boards in order to be certified in their area of expertise.
Did you know that Mayo Clinic offers programs of study and learning opportunities in all of the above careers, including physician? Students enrolled in a program of study at the Mayo Clinic learn from the best physicians and medical professionals on campus. Not only do they learn the skills necessary to be successful in their career, they also learn early on the importance of working as a team to care for patients and putting the needs of the patient first.
If you would like to read more about educational opportunities at Mayo Clinic, please visit the following website: http://www.mayo.edu/education.
Barb Sorensen is a Public Affairs consultant at Mayo Clinic.
