Arizona - November 2012 Archives

YUMA, Ariz. — November 26, 2012.  Mayo Clinic officials today announced Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. The collaboration between YRMC and Mayo Clinic physicians will be rolled out initially through Yuma Regional Cancer Center, with opportunities for physicians from both organizations to work together in additional specialties in the future. The Mayo Clinic Care Network extends Mayo Clinic's knowledge and expertise to physicians and providers interested in working together in the best interest of their patients. YRMC physicians now will be able to connect with Mayo Clinic specialists on questions of patient care using an electronic consulting technique called eConsults. YRMC physicians also will have access to Mayo-vetted medical information through the AskMayoExpert database. These tools, in addition to health care consulting, will help YRMC provide the best care for its patients as well as improve its systems and the health of the community. "We're proud to welcome the Yuma Regional Medical Center care team to the Mayo Clinic Care Network," says Wyatt Decker, M.D., vice president and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "Building a closer relationship with Yuma Regional Medical Center through the Care Network provides an opportunity for our two organizations to work together in new ways to provide specialized care, which ultimately enhances the lives of patients throughout Southwestern Arizona." "YRMC and Mayo Clinic both believe that health care should be delivered as close to home as possible," says Pat Walz, President and CEO of YRMC. "By working together, physicians can improve the delivery of health care so patients need to travel outside the region for care only when absolutely necessary. Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Care Network members share a common philosophy, commitment and mission to improve the delivery of health care. And the primary goal of the network is to help people gain the benefits of Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise close to home, ensuring that patients need to travel for care only when necessary. The Mayo Clinic Care Network represents non-ownership relationships. Network members are like-minded organizations committed to the delivery of high-quality, collaborative medical care for their communities.

YUMA, Ariz. — Mayo Clinic officials today announced Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. The collaboration between YRMC and Mayo Clinic physicians will be rolled out initially through Yuma Regional Cancer Center, with opportunities for physicians from both organizations to work together in additional specialties in the future. The Mayo Clinic Care Network extends Mayo Clinic's knowledge and expertise to physicians and providers interested in working together in the best interest of their patients. YRMC physicians now will be able to connect with Mayo Clinic specialists on questions of patient care using an electronic consulting technique called eConsults. YRMC physicians also will have access to Mayo-vetted medical information through the AskMayoExpert database. These tools, in addition to health care consulting, will help YRMC provide the best care for its patients as well as improve its systems and the health of the community. "We're proud to welcome the Yuma Regional Medical Center care team to the Mayo Clinic Care Network," says Wyatt Decker, M.D., vice president and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "Building a closer relationship with Yuma Regional Medical Center through the Care Network provides an opportunity for our two organizations to work together in new ways to provide specialized care, which ultimately enhances the lives of patients throughout Southwestern Arizona." "YRMC and Mayo Clinic both believe that health care should be delivered as close to home as possible," says Pat Walz, President and CEO of YRMC. "By working together, physicians can improve the delivery of health care so patients need to travel outside the region for care only when absolutely necessary. Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Care Network members share a common philosophy, commitment and mission to improve the delivery of health care. And the primary goal of the network is to help people gain the benefits of Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise close to home, ensuring that patients need to travel for care only when necessary.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — A program at Mayo Clinic using telemedicine technology is showing promise for patients with concussions in rural Arizona. A case study published in the December 2012 issue of Telemedicine and e-Health validates "teleconcussion" as a useful means to assess concussed patients. In the case study, doctors at Mayo Clinic in Arizona conducted a live audio-video evaluation of a 15-year-old soccer player in Show Low, Ariz., who received a concussion during a game. The teleconcussion evaluation, believed to be the first in the state to use telemedicine for concussions, supports the use of this technology to bring concussion expertise to rural locations. Similar telestroke, teleneurology, and teleepilepsy programs have been operating at Mayo Clinic in Arizona for several years. More than one-third of rural Arizona lacks access to the kind of neurological expertise found in metropolitan areas. Mayo Clinic's program aims to address this disparity by providing support through these programs. With telemedicine technology, use of a specialized remote controlled camera system allows the patient in the rural setting to be "seen" by the neurology specialist — in real time. The Mayo Clinic neurologist, whose face appears on the screen of the monitor, consults with physicians at the rural sites and evaluates the patient via Internet-based computers. "When a community doesn't have ready access to providers trained in the recognition and management of concussion, concussed athletes sometimes go unrecognized or returned to play prematurely potentially subjecting them to more serious injuries," says Bert Vargas, M.D., neurologist and assistant professor of Neurology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "Teleconcussion can help triage patients and help identify which people are in need of additional workup or management. In the case of sport-related concussions, this technology can provide rural physicians with assistance in making decisions about when athletes can safely return to play." Click here to hear Dr. Vargas talk about teleconcussion and the case study. Dr. Vargas says that this technology is welcome news for doctors in rural areas, especially in light of the concussion law in Arizona. SB 1521, which was signed into law in 2011, mandates evaluation and clearance athletes with concussions by trained health care providers. "Despite the current culture of increased awareness and recognition of concussions, concussed athletes go unrecognized — even at the professional level," Dr. Vargas adds. "Many professional sports organizations have voiced the need for neurologists to be on the sideline to make rapid authoritative decisions regarding return to play for athletes suspected of having a concussion. Teleconcussion may eventually be a way to address the logistical issues associated with having a neurologist on the sideline of every professional and collegiate level sporting event."

PHOENIX — Mayo Clinic kidney transplant patients were entertained by "American Idol" finalist and Scottsdale resident Scott MacIntyre as they gathered for their annual transplant ...

PHOENIX – It's been said that marriage is good for your health — especially if you're a man. Research at Mayo Clinic in Arizona shows that's true when it comes to seeking care for stroke symptoms. VIDEO: Dr. Lee-Iannotti explains the study. A Mayo Clinic study, presented at the American Stroke Conference in New Orleans in early February, says that men experiencing a stroke call for emergency help quicker than women, especially if they are married. "Marriage has long been shown to offer health benefits and often more for men," said Joyce Lee-Iannotti, M.D., a neurology Fellow at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and author of the study. "The reasons are unclear, but it's been postulated that it can be societal roles, where women take on the roles of caregivers and advise their spouses to seek care, often putting their own health behind that of their children and husband." The study was a retrospective review of 209 patients with acute stroke symptoms brought by emergency medical services to Mayo Clinic in Phoenix over 15 months ending in November 2011. Researchers collected participants' age, gender, marital status, time of symptom awareness and time of emergency medical services dispatch. They compared the time from symptoms awareness to EMS dispatch between married and single participants and between men and women. Married men called within 28 minutes of symptoms compared to married women, who called an average of 67 minutes after their first stroke symptoms. Single men activated EMS earlier than single women, but the difference was not significant. The average age of the patients was 76 years; half were women, half were men. Approximately half were married and about half were single. The researchers found that, overall, the group of married patients called for emergency services more quickly than their single counterparts, but the difference wasn't significant. The researchers plan a future study of the reasons why married men with stroke symptoms seek medical attention earlier. Dr. Lee-Iannotti urges everyone, regardless of gender, to watch for signs and symptoms if you think you or someone else may be having a stroke. Note when signs and symptoms begin, because the length of time they have been present may guide treatment decisions. Signs and symptoms of stroke: Trouble with walking. You may stumble or experience sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination. Trouble speaking and understanding. You may experience confusion. You may slur your words or be unable to find the right words to explain what is happening to you (aphasia). Try to repeat a simple sentence. If you can't, you may be having a stroke.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – A new study from Mayo Clinic supports the idea that "what's good for your heart is good for your brain." The study, ...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Mayo Clinic in Arizona is the first and only clinical center in the Southwest to offer a new treatment that disrupts the ...