ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that can identify obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using the results from an electrocardiogram (ECG) – a common heart test. The innovation could make it faster, cheaper, and easier to spot sleep apnea, particularly in women, who are often underdiagnosed.

A common but underrecognized condition

OSA affects more than 936 million adults ages 30-69 worldwide and poses significant cardiovascular risks. People with OSA experience repeated episodes of upper airway collapse or blockage during sleep. This collapse causes breathing to stop or become shallow repeatedly, which often leads to loud snoring and gasping. Despite its prevalence, it often goes undiagnosed.

"Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is a highly prevalent disease with important cardiovascular consequences," says Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D., Alice Sheets Marriott Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and senior author of the study published in JACC: Advances. "OSA affects the heart to the point where AI algorithms can detect the OSA signature from the ECG, which in essence is a representation of the electrical activity of the heart muscle cells," Dr. Somers adds.

AI model shows strong performance — especially for women

In the study, the researchers used AI algorithms to review the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) test results of 11,299 patients at Mayo Clinic who had undergone the test along with sleep evaluations. More than 7,000 of them had a known diagnosis of OSA, and 4,000 were controls.

"The most surprising finding was the increased visibility on the ECG of OSA in the females compared to the males, even though the OSA severity was less in the females," says Dr. Somers.

"This is relevant since emerging data consistently suggest that females have a greater relative likelihood of suffering the cardiovascular consequences of OSA, even if their OSA may be considered 'milder' by standard diagnostic criteria," he adds.

The test also strongly suggests women may suffer more damage to their heart muscle cells from OSA, Dr. Somers says.

Dr. Somers underscores that this approach may have the potential to evaluate whether a given OSA treatment may be able to reduce a patient's cardiovascular risk.

Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding.

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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.

Media contact:

• Terri Malloy, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post How Mayo Clinic experts are using AI to better detect sleep apnea, especially in women appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I love the fall, but I dread the shorter days and how I feel. I've read about seasonal affective disorder, but could you please tell me more about it?

ANSWER: Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that's related to the changes in seasons. Symptoms typically appear in the fall, worsen through the winter months and eventually go away in the spring or summer. The answers to these questions should help you better understand SAD and determine if you should seek care.

What are the possible causes of SAD?

While the exact cause is unknown, it may be linked to reduced sunlight, which reacts with the natural chemicals in your body, like serotonin and melatonin, that determine mood and energy levels and regulate sleep.

SAD isn't just a case of the winter blues, a condition that is milder and more common. SAD symptoms can make it difficult to function at home, work and in social settings.

Who is most at risk for experiencing symptoms of SAD?

People who live in the northern half of the U.S., where daylight hours are shorter and there's less sunlight, are at more risk. It's estimated that about 20% of people in this region could have symptoms of SAD. It's believed that SAD runs in families, and it's more common in women.

What are the symptoms of SAD?

Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder to watch for include:

• Difficulty concentrating.
• Feeling persistently tired and fatigued, including feeling a loss of energy nearly every day of the affected months.
• Feelings of worthlessness.
• Losing interest in things you would typically enjoy, such as hobbies and social activities.
• Persistently feeling down or sad.
• Sleep disturbances, which could include hypersomnia (sleeping too much) or insomnia (difficulty falling asleep).
• Thoughts of suicide.
• Weight changes, including weight gain or weight loss.

What are the treatments for SAD?

Light therapy
Bright light therapy is considered an effective treatment for SAD. Research suggests that around half of people who use a bright light therapy box have good results in reducing symptoms.

It's essential to meet with a healthcare professional familiar with light therapy to determine the type of device needed to be effective, how to correctly set it up and the length of time required in front of a light box. They'll also help you if your skin or eyes are sensitive to light due to a medical condition or medication.

Generally, the light box should provide an exposure of 10,000 lux of light and emit as little UV light as possible. The typical recommendation is to use the light box within the first hour of waking up in the morning for 20–30 minutes. Light boxes emit either white or blue light, but the color doesn't make a difference.

Medications
Your healthcare professional may prescribe an antidepressant.

Physical activity
Research has shown that exercising for 20 minutes at least three days a week is similar to taking an antidepressant. Being active can help with serotonin production and boost your mood. Exercising outdoors during daylight hours increases its effectiveness in reducing symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT helps people learn how to manage their symptoms of depression or reduce their severity. Talk with your healthcare professional about CBT and how to find someone skilled in it for depression or anxiety.

What can I start doing before the onset of symptoms?

If you have SAD, there are preventive measures that you can put in place, including: 

• Be physically active.
  Exercise helps relieve stress and anxiety. It's essential to stay active during winter, even if you're tempted to "hibernate."
• Get outside.
  Spend 15 to 20 minutes outside when the sun is out. If the weather allows, take a walk outside when the sun is at its peak. Sunlight helps adjust your body's internal clock.
• Make your environment bright.
  Open the window blinds and allow sunlight into your home. Sit near a window while at home or work.
• Prioritize sleep.
  Go to bed and wake at the same time every day, with the goal of getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep. Excessive napping and oversleeping beyond your typical schedule can disrupt your circadian rhythm.
• Stay connected to friends and family.
  SAD can lead to staying home and isolating. Engaging with friends, staying in a routine, and getting active at home and outside of the home are essential.
• Take care of your body and mind.
  Eat regular, healthy meals. Avoid drugs and alcohol, which can make depression worse. Manage stress with practices like deep breathing, mindfulness and meditation.

If you have a history of SAD, talk with your healthcare team about a plan to better manage your mood during the winter months.

Janice Schreier, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A: Seasonal affective disorder is more than feeling sad appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — HealthLocator, a new, free digital tool, launches today to help patients and families find hospitals that consistently provide high-quality care.

HealthLocator gathers national quality data into a single, easy-to-navigate tool that allows users to search by city, specialty, or hospital. With just a few clicks, people can compare hospitals based on performance and make more informed choices about their care.

"HealthLocator brings together existing external national quality data into one clear, trusted source to help people select a high-quality hospital for themselves or a loved one," says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic.

For more than a decade, Mayo Clinic has used a combination of publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on clinical quality, hospital patient safety and associated infection metrics, and patient experience to inform and advance its own improvement initiatives. These same evidence-based measures are used to rate more than 5,000 U.S. hospitals featured in HealthLocator.

"HealthLocator offers a clear, evidence-based view of hospital quality that aligns with Mayo Clinic's primary value: the needs of the patient come first," says Sean Dowdy, M.D., chief value officer for Mayo Clinic and the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Associate Dean for Practice Transformation. "By helping people make informed healthcare decisions, we're improving lives."

More information about HealthLocator’s methodology is available in New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst.

Created for patients by those who serve them, HealthLocator is offered as a free public service. Users do not need to create an account, and there are no subscriptions.

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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.

Media contact:

• Andrea Kalmanovitz, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Find trusted, high-quality hospitals nationwide with HealthLocator  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Nurses at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, once again earned Magnet recognition, making this their seventh designation and reaffirming nearly 30 years of excellence in nursing. The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.

"This recognition belongs to every nurse and care team member who lives our values each day," says Sherry Wolf, chief nursing officer, Mayo Clinic in Rochester. "Their compassion, collaboration and dedication make Mayo Clinic a place of hope and healing and reaffirm our place as a Category of One in delivering exceptional patient care." 

The designation process first began in 1994, and Mayo Clinic in Rochester has maintained Magnet status since 1997, placing it among the top 1% of healthcare organizations worldwide to hold this honor for nearly thirty years. This distinction reflects the enduring commitment, skill and compassion of its nursing teams. 

Magnet-designated organizations are distinguished by their collaborative culture, where nurses are essential partners in delivering the highest quality of care and driving continuous innovation in professional practice. These organizations also foster a positive environment for staff and contribute to shaping the future of the nursing profession.

The redesignation process occurs every four years and requires a comprehensive application and an on-site visit to demonstrate nursing excellence. 

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.

About ANCC's Magnet Recognition Program
The Magnet Recognition Program — administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice.

The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit nursingworld.org/magnet.

The post Mayo Clinic in Rochester recognized for nursing excellence with Magnet redesignation appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Join Mayo Clinic and local law enforcement to safely and anonymously discard your unused and expired medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Mayo Clinic, in collaboration with the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office, Olmsted Medical Center, Zumbro Valley Medical Society and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will host a community drop-off event to collect unused or expired medications. The Rochester Fire Department, Olmsted County Drug & Alcohol Response Team, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service and Rochester Police Department will be on-site with opportunities to learn more about community drug safety and emergency response.  

"Safe medication disposal is prevention in action," says Benjamin Lai, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., a family medicine physician and chair of Mayo Clinic's Opioid Stewardship Program.

"National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reminds us that small actions — like cleaning out a medicine cabinet — can have a powerful impact on protecting our loved ones and our community."

Anyone can anonymously drop off medications in Rochester on Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mayo Family Clinic Northeast, 3041 Stonehedge Drive NE.

Medications accepted for safe disposal at take-back locations include:

• Prescription drugs
• Over-the-counter medications
• Ointments, patches, creams, inhalers and vials
• Pet medications
• Nonaerosol medications

Liquid medications must be in the original container. Vape pens and other e-cigarette devices are accepted with the batteries removed. 

"Every returned medication is one less chance for misuse or accidental harm," says Dr. Lai. "Safe disposal is one of the easiest ways we can all promote community health."

For those who live outside of Rochester, visit the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day website to find a drop-off location in your area.

Community members who cannot attend the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event can dispose of medications safely in the prescription drug collection box at the Olmsted County Government Center. The box is in the vestibule of the Adult Detention Center and is accessible around the clock every day of the year. Several pharmacies in the community also offer collection boxes — locate your nearest box with the DEA's year-round disposal site locator tool.

JOURNALISTS: Journalists interested in covering the event are invited to arrive between 10 and 11 a.m. Representatives from participating agencies will be available for on-site interviews.

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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.

Media contact: 

• Vincent Jacobbi, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Safely dispose of unused medications this Take Back Day appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Radiation therapy is a common component of breast cancer treatment for patients. The high-powered beams of intense energy kill cancer cells and reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.

Dr. Laura Vallow, chair of the Radiation Oncology Department at Mayo Clinic in Florida, explains how innovation is transforming radiation treatments.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:05) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Patients with breast cancer now have more options when it comes to radiation treatments. The goal is to remove any remaining cancer cells following chemotherapy or surgery. 

"In other situations, we use radiation if the cancer is more advanced, or spread to the lymph nodes," says Dr. Vallow.

Advancements in technology allow healthcare professionals to treat patients more safely. One technique called "prone positioning" reduces the chance of beams targeting other organs. For this procedure, patients lie on their stomachs.

"We take advantage of gravity, the breast pulls away from the body, and we can treat the breast without exposing the underlying lung and heart to unnecessary radiation," explains Dr. Vallow.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is cutting-edge. Unlike traditional radiation, this procedure delivers X-rays directly to the targeted area from multiple angles, allowing for higher, more effective doses.

"Before intensity-modulated radiation therapy, we were not able to conform the dose around the chest wall," says Dr. Vallow.

For patients undergoing radiation therapy, it's crucial to stay hydrated and try to sleep well to fight fatigue. It's also important to use sunscreen after treatment.

Related Posts:

• Mayo Clinic leads 4 decades of advances in breast cancer care
• Mayo Clinic research improves dense breast cancer screening and early detection
• Top 10 questions about breast cancer answered
• Mayo Clinic treats first person in the US with a novel radiopharmaceutical therapy for breast cancer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: MRI for dense breasts — what to know
• Mayo Clinic Q&A: How to decide which breast cancer surgery is right for you
• (VIDEO) Back on the bench: Judge’s metastatic breast cancer journey inspires hope
• Mayo Clinic Q&A: What do you need to know about dense breasts?

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Radiation therapy for patients with breast cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

As respiratory infections rise in the fall months, washing your hands with soap and water is more important than ever. Regular hand-washing stops germs from spreading and lowers your chances of getting sick. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating or cooking, and after coughing or sneezing.

Washing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap is simple yet effective. It can prevent 1 in 3 cases of diarrhea and 1 in 5 respiratory infections. 

Dr. Summer Allen, a family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, says staying healthy means fewer missed days from school, work and activities. Here are tips for good hand hygiene.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:03) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Twenty seconds. That's how long you should be using soap and water to wash your hands each time, says Dr. Allen.

"Using that lather and that soap and that time to scrub between each of their fingers on the insides and the backsides of their hands, and taking time — not just one or two seconds — and then rinsing your hands off again," she says.

When to wash your hands

There are some key times when you should wash your hands.

"When you're leaving the bathroom. Another important time would be if you cough or sneeze. We try to tell people to try to sneeze into your elbow or not into your hand," says Dr. Allen.

And when handling food like uncooked meat, poultry, seafood, flour and eggs, unwashed hands can spread germs and lead to foodborne illnesses.

"When you're touching and handling that food, it's important to wash your hands and wash surfaces when you're done so that you don't pick up one of those infections," she emphasizes.

If soap and water aren't available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is a second choice.

To properly wash your hands, follow these steps:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water.
• Apply any kind of soap, and lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, palms, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Use a clean towel to turn off the faucet and dry your hands.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Wash your hands for better health appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

New program provides biopharma and medical device companies access to de-identified data, advanced AI, provider expertise and global distribution. 

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic today announced the launch of Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate, a new program designed to accelerate clinical development and help biopharma and medical device companies bring innovative therapies to patients faster. 

Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate gives collaborators a single point of access to Mayo Clinic's world-class research and clinical expertise, de-identified clinical data, advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools, physician-scientist expertise and international partner network. By removing barriers that traditionally slow clinical development, the program enables companies to move efficiently from discovery to delivery. 

"Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate was created to help our life sciences and biopharma partners bring therapies to patients safely and faster," says Maneesh Goyal, chief operating officer, Mayo Clinic Platform. "By combining trusted data, advanced AI and Mayo Clinic's scientific expertise, we are reimagining what's possible in clinical development." 

How it works 

Within Mayo Clinic Platform's ecosystem of clinical data, AI and clinician expertise, Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate serves as the front door for collaboration. The program streamlines access to: 

• Discovery – access to real-world clinical data and biospecimens. 
• Validation – rigorous testing and refinement of AI models and digital solutions. 
• Deployment – scalable infrastructure to integrate innovations across Mayo Clinic and its international network. 

Through this streamlined entry point, companies can: 

• Accelerate product pipelines with access to de-identified, multi-modal longitudinal clinical data (powered by nference) across Mayo Clinic Platform's growing global network. 
• Advance AI innovation by building, validating and deploying clinically useful solutions. 
• Drive discovery with Mayo Clinic's biospecimens, multi-omics profiling and physician-scientist expertise. 
• Scale solutions through Mayo Clinic's U.S. and international partner ecosystem. 

Leading life sciences and technology firms are already using the Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate program, underscoring strong industry demand for its capabilities. Early projects are harnessing the platform to develop multimodal AI models for early disease detection, create tools that precisely identify patients for targeted therapies, accelerate and diversify clinical trial recruitment, and deploy validated digital health solutions at scale across U.S. and international care settings. These collaborations highlight how Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate is rapidly moving innovation from concept to practice. 

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About Mayo Clinic Platform 
Founded on Mayo Clinic's dedication to patient-centered care, Mayo Clinic Platform enables new knowledge, new solutions and new technologies through collaborations with health technology innovators to create a healthier world. To learn more, visit Mayo Clinic Platform.

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

About nference
nference is unlocking the potential of healthcare data with AI, delivering real-world evidence, insights, and solutions informed by the most comprehensive multimodal data across all therapeutic areas. With unprecedented access to data from over 40 million patient journeys, our partners can accelerate target discovery, optimize clinical trial design, and enhance lifecycle management. 

Media contact: 

• Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post Mayo Clinic launches Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate to get new therapies to patients faster  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've read so much about the health benefits of tracking my steps. But there's a lot of confusing information out there. How many is the right number? Are some "steps" better for you than others? Please help.

ANSWER: Whether you're tracking steps with your phone, a smartwatch or an old-school pedometer, the result is the same: you'll have a good indicator of how much you're moving during the day. The best device for you is the one you'll use. With many devices, you can set up alerts and goals that remind you to move. And that's what counts. The ultimate goal is to move 150 minutes per week.

Reaping the benefits

You're right about the health benefits of getting in your steps. Here's what walking can help you do:

• Control your blood pressure.
• Lose or maintain weight.
• Improve balance and coordination.
• Increase core strength.
• Manage stress and improve mood by releasing endorphins.
• Manage your diabetes.
• Reduce the risk of a heart attack.
• Reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Stay strong and active.

Walking also has been shown to:

• Improve sleep.
• Slow mental decline.
• Lower the risk of dementia.
• Reduce the risk of some cancers.
• Help you lead a longer life.
• Maintain independent living into older age.

If you're on a medically assisted weight-loss journey, whether that's bariatric surgery or a GLP-1 drug, being physically active will help burn calories, build strength, maintain muscle mass and bone density, and promote sustainable weight loss. It also can help medications work better.

Tracking steps

Is there a magic number of steps for reaping these health benefits? Not really. If you can get in 10,000 steps a day, great. Research has shown that 10,000 steps a day can lead to reductions in premature death, with a majority of that reduction happening between 4,000 and 8,000 steps. After 10,000, you'll still see benefits, but they start to plateau. 

How you get your steps doesn't really matter. Walking has a cumulative effect on your body across your day. So whether you walk your dog for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night, go for a brisk 30-minute walk or spend an hour moving around the house or working in the yard, those steps all count.

Getting started

The best way to start tracking your steps is to take it slow and steady. Listen to your body — it will tell you whether you're trying to do too much. Work more steps into your day by parking farther away from entrances, walking in place while you're waiting for the timer on the microwave to go off, and making multiple trips to bring in packages rather than loading up in just one. You may want to consider getting a walking pad and use it while watching TV or doing food prep in the kitchen.

Setting the pace

When you're advised to go for a brisk walk, what does that mean? "Brisk" is different for everyone. The average walking speed to aim for is 3 to 3.5 mph, which a device can help you measure. If you can walk faster safely, great. However, walking slowly is better than not walking at all and will still give you the benefits of moving your body.

The talk test is an easy way to identify a proper intensity. If you're able to talk but find it difficult to carry on a full conversation, that's "brisk" for you. You may not be out of breath, but your breathing is definitely elevated. New research indicates that brisk walking can boost brain function and well-being, as well as physical health.

Even if you're able to get in a little bit of walking every day, your body responds to this exercise, and you gain the benefits.

By Mackenzie Long, Physical Therapy/Sports Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse and Onalaska, Wisconsin

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A: Health benefits of counting steps appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Kenneth Adams understands the importance of love, resilience and family. After his wife's passing in 2022, Adams reconnected with a lifelong friend, whom he had known for nearly 50 years. Kenneth and Susan Kidd eventually fell in love, and they were committed to building a life together.

"We love to travel and spend time with family — we wanted our relationship to be an example for our grandchildren. And to us, marriage was the next step," Adams said.

While making plans for a wedding in early 2025, Kenneth became ill and was diagnosed with sepsis. His complex condition required coordinated care, so the team at Mayo Clinic developed a plan: antibiotics administered intravenously every day for six weeks. Instead of staying in the hospital for the duration of the treatment, Kenneth's care team determined he was a candidate for Mayo Clinic's Advanced Care at Home program.

Going home

Advanced Care at Home offers patients high-acuity care, delivered in the comfort of their home. With around-the-clock access, advanced technology and a dedicated in-home care team, patients receive comprehensive treatment while minimizing stress and disruption to daily life. 

"With Advanced Care at Home, we can treat, monitor and communicate with patients as we would in a hospital setting, without recreating the feeling of being in a hospital setting," says Dr. Michael Maniaci, director of Advanced Care at Home.

For Kenneth, receiving treatment at home allowed him to maintain his routine, enjoy meals and sleep without interruption. 

“The program provided everything you would need in a hospital but with the comforts of home and closeness of family," Kenneth says. "They had the procedures down, the infrastructure and the systems in place — it was a dream come true."

As the end of his treatment neared and his strength improved, Kenneth and Susan began thinking about a wedding ceremony again.

A wedding between treatments

On May 19, 2025, Kenneth and Susan invited a pair of close friends and a pastor to their Ponte Vedra, Florida, home. The couple was married in their backyard, and just an hour after saying "I do," Kenneth received one of his daily treatments.

"Getting married was a goal for Mr. Adams, so as his care team, we made sure he could achieve that goal safely and on his terms," Dr. Maniaci says.

Kenneth credits Advanced Care at Home with making the wedding possible. He was discharged from the program a week later with no signs of sepsis. 

“People heal better at home," he says. “I feel that I'm living proof of that. There was no burden on my family — the team handled everything – and by being at home, I could get married,” Kenneth says.

By late July, Kenneth was well enough to resume another passion: travel. A trip that had been postponed earlier in the year was back on the calendar as a honeymoon. Looking ahead, Kenneth is preparing for an annual family trip in October. He continues to live with purpose and gratitude. 

“I want to do what I can, while I can,” Kenneth says. "I can do so much more with my health restored."

The post How Advanced Care at Home helped make Kenneth Adams’ wedding day possible appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.