BATON ROUGE, La. — Mayo Clinic welcomes Baton Rouge General (BRG) and The Baton Rouge Clinic as the newest members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

Baton Rouge General and The Baton Rouge Clinic are the first health care organizations in Louisiana to join the care network, a group of carefully vetted, independent health systems that have special access to Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise.

Physicians from both organizations will be able to combine their understanding of their patients' medical needs with Mayo Clinic expertise so patients get exactly the care they need, close to home. There is no additional cost to patients.

"We know that patients want more access and convenience, a shift that is fundamentally changing the way we provide care," says Edgardo Tenreiro, CEO of Baton Rouge General. "This collaboration means our patients can work with their existing BRG physician to take advantage of Mayo Clinic's research and resources without leaving their homes and families."

"As we explored the potential for collaboration with Mayo Clinic, it was clear that our values are remarkably similar," says Louis Minsky, M.D., chief of staff at Baton Rouge General. "From a physician's perspective, I look forward to using their resources to strengthen patient relationships and preserve their ability to obtain the best care here at home."

Members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network may have access to:

• AskMayoExpert
  Point-of-care tool that offers concise clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions and includes medical protocols, recommendations for treatment, and medical references. The database can be used wherever health care is provided.

• eConsults
  Baton Rouge General and Baton Rouge Clinic physicians can contact Mayo Clinic specialists for second opinions on specific patient cases when they believe additional input will benefit their patients.

• eBoards
  These live videoconferences will enable Baton Rouge General and Baton Rouge Clinic medical teams to review and discuss complex cases with a Mayo Clinic panel and other doctors within the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

• Health care consulting
  As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, physicians can access Mayo's extensive experience, knowledge and subspecialty expertise to attain clinical, operational and business goals.

• Patient education and grand rounds
  Staff from Baton Rouge General and The Baton Rouge Clinic can use patient education materials, and access opportunities for professional development and continuous medical education through grand rounds.

"When our four founding physicians started The Baton Rouge Clinic in 1946, they understood the value of physicians working together to improve patient care. And today, we continue to build upon that belief as we join the Mayo Clinic Care Network with Baton Rouge General," says Ed Silvey, CEO of The Baton Rouge Clinic. "Our relationship with Mayo Clinic gives our physicians access to Mayo Clinic research and resources to treat patients close to home."

Baton Rouge General and The Baton Rouge Clinic were vetted as part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network's comprehensive evaluation process. This included on-site visits and an in-depth review of the organizations' governance structure, clinical practice and business practices, as well as their quality, safety and service efforts.

"Mayo Clinic is pleased to welcome Baton Rouge General and The Baton Rouge Clinic to the Mayo Clinic Care Network," says Ryan Uitti, M.D., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network's Southeast Region. "Baton Rouge General and The Baton Rouge Clinic have a long history of improving the health and well-being of their communities through dedicated, high-quality care. We look forward to working together to complement their specialty expertise and enhance locally provided care."

Mayo Clinic launched the Mayo Clinic Care Network in 2011. It has more than 40 member organizations across the U.S., and in Asia, Mexico and the Middle East.

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About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area's first community hospital with 588 licensed beds between two campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900 and has provided the greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality health care for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General serves as an affiliate of Tulane University School of Medicine and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit the Baton Rouge General website, find Baton Rouge General on Facebook and follow Baton Rouge General on Twitter.

About The Baton Rouge Clinic, AMC
The Baton Rouge Clinic is recognized as the premier multispecialty clinic in the region, bringing an excellent level of care to more than 250,000 patients throughout Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. From everyday health care needs to highly specialized medical services, you can trust The Baton Rouge Clinic to provide clinical excellence and compassionate care for your entire family. After all, The Baton Rouge Clinic has been caring for generations for over 70 years. For more information visit The Baton Rouge Clinic website, find The Baton Rouge Clinic on Facebook and follow The Baton Rouge Clinic on Twitter.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news and An Inside Look at Mayo Clinic for more information about Mayo.

Media contacts:

• Katie Johnston, Baton Rouge General, 225-715-5480, katherine.johnston@brgeneral.org
• Katy Meyers, The Baton Rouge Clinic, 225-246-9495, contactus@brclinic.com
• Rhoda Madson, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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