Minnesota - January 2015 Archives

ROCHESTER, Minn. ― Here are highlights from the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit http://healthletter.mayoclinic.com/ or call toll-free for subscription information, 1-800-333-9037, extension 9771. Full newsletter text: Mayo Clinic Health Letter January 2015 (for journalists only). Wrist fractures: Treatment decisions not always straightforward Treatment decisions for wrist fractures quickly can become complicated, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. The wrist is made up of eight small bones at the base of the hand and two in the forearm ― the radius and ulna ― that connect the elbow to the wrist bones. Any one of these bones can be fractured; a wrist fracture is a widely variable injury. One of the primary decisions is the choice between nonsurgical and surgical treatment. Sometimes the choice is clear, and sometimes it’s not. Factors to consider include overall health, lifestyle, ability to tolerate surgery and the desire for a fully functioning wrist.

Rochester, Minn. — If you haven’t already experienced telemedicine, you may soon have the option. Technology is helping people connect with their physicians in new ways and from a distance, and interest is growing in updating state and federal policies to help make telemedicine available to more patients. Mayo Clinic this week responded to a request from the House Energy and Commerce Committee for recommendations on how lawmakers can help this new health care option progress. Steve Ommen, M.D., medical director of Mayo Clinic Connected Care, explains telemedicine and outlines state and national moves that would help more patients take advantage of it:  What is telemedicine? Telemedicine most commonly refers to communication with or among a patient’s health care team via video connection, secure text messaging or another platform rather than in person. It can be used to schedule appointments, answer questions, handle routine checkups, allow physicians in different locations to consult about a patient’s case, collect vital signs or even to help examine and diagnose patients. To protect patient privacy, secure communication methods are used. Mayo Clinic views development of telemedicine as an important next step to improve health care access, quality and efficiency across the country. MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, Email: newsbureau@mayo.edu Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Ommen are available in the downloads.

Rochester, Minn. – “Precision medicine” is becoming a national catchphrase after President Obama highlighted it in his State of the Union address. But what exactly is it? Richard Weinshilboum, M.D., acting director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, describes this new, rapidly advancing frontier in medicine and outlines 10 changes that would speed development and help more patients benefit from a personalized approach to health care: What is precision medicine? In precision medicine, also called individualized medicine or personalized medicine, physicians use knowledge about a person’s personal genetic makeup to help determine the best plan for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The mapping of the human genome in 2003 by U.S. scientists jump-started medical genomics; the Human Genome Project was an immense international collaboration that took 13 years and cost $3.8 billion. The National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute, which coordinated the project, estimates economic growth from that project at $798 billion. "We are now poised to apply genomic technologies developed with the findings of the Human Genome Project into everyday patient care,” Dr. Weinshilboum says. “However, if the U.S. is to remain the world leader in health care innovation and delivery, we need another national genomics effort that will accelerate scientific discovery and clinical implementation while continuing to encourage the rapid technological innovations and entrepreneurialism that have gotten us to this point." MEDIA CONTACT: To schedule an interview with Dr. Weinshilboum or other Mayo Clinic individualized medicine experts, please contact Sam Smith or Robert Nellis in Mayo Clinic Public Affairs at 507-284-5005 or newsbureau@mayo.edu.

Rochester, Minn. — A new breast imaging technique pioneered at Mayo Clinic nearly quadruples detection rates of invasive breast cancers in women with dense breast tissue, according to the results of a major study published this week in the American Journal of Roentgenology. Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) is a supplemental imaging technology designed to find tumors that would otherwise be obscured by surrounding dense breast tissue on a mammogram. Tumors and dense breast tissue can both appear white on a mammogram, making tumors indistinguishable from background tissue in women with dense breasts. About half of all screening-aged women have dense breast tissue, according to Deborah Rhodes, M.D., a Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic physician and the senior author of this study. MBI increased the detection rate of invasive breast cancers by more than 360 percent when used in addition to regular screening mammography, according to the study. MBI uses small, semiconductor-based gamma cameras to image the breast following injection of a radiotracer that tumors absorb avidly. Unlike conventional breast imaging techniques, such as mammography and ultrasound, MBI exploits the different behavior of tumors relative to background tissue, producing a functional image of the breast that can detect tumors not seen on mammography. The study, conducted at Mayo Clinic, included 1,585 women with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts who underwent an MBI exam at the time of their screening mammogram. MEDIA CONTACT: Sam Smith, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic researchers have invited approximately 200 area eighth grade and high school students to the 16th Biennial Celebration of Research, a daylong conference for students interested in learning about careers in science. The keynote address, "Harnessing Viruses to Attack Cancer," will be presented by Eva Galanis, M.D., a professor of oncology and chair of the Department of Molecular Medicine at Mayo Clinic. This year's theme, "Going Viral," pertains to Dr. Galanis’ research and clinical efforts on using modified viruses to develop novel therapeutics for cancer treatment. Students are scheduled to attend from Albert Lea, Altura, Austin, Blooming Prairie, Caledonia, Chatfield, Dover, Elgin, Eyota, Faribault, Grand Meadow, Houston, Kasson, Kenyon, Lanesboro, Lewiston, Lyle, Mantorville, Mazeppa, Millville, Northfield, Owatonna, Peterson, Pine Island, Plainview, Rochester, Rushford, Southland, Stewartville, Winona and Zumbrota.

ROCHESTER, Minn -- Acting Director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, Richard Weinshilboum M.D., says, "We are pleased and heartened that President Obama plans ...

ROCHESTER, Minn., — Mayo Clinic announced today that Epic has been selected as its strategic partner for a single, integrated electronic health record (EHR) and revenue cycle management (RCM) system. The new system will replace Mayo’s three EHRs in use today and will be a foundation for Mayo Clinic operations over the next several decades. “We’re confident in choosing Epic as our strategic partner as we continue to enhance Mayo Clinic’s excellence in health care and medical innovation,” says John Noseworthy, M.D., Mayo Clinic president and CEO.

KASSON, Minn. — Mayo Clinic is planning to renovate and expand its Kasson primary care clinic in 2015. While the project time frame is currently being finalized, construction at Mayo Family Clinic Kasson is expected to be completed early next year. Mayo Family Clinic Kasson offers patients primary and specialized health care services and is home to the Mayo Family Medicine Residency Program. The renovation project will create new space and reconfigure existing space to support the delivery of patient care. It will allow for additional patient privacy and safety through redesigned lobby and expanded hallway space. Laboratory and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation services will be relocated near the front of the building to allow patients with easier and convenient access. In addition, the renovation will support collaboration and efficiency for the multidisciplinary care teams in delivering a comprehensive, seamless care experience for patients. MEDIA CONTACT: Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

Sepsis can be a dangerous complication of almost any type of infection, including influenza, pneumonia and food poisoning; urinary tract infections; bloodstream infections from wounds; and abdominal infections. Steve Peters, M.D., a pulmonary and critical care physician at Mayo Clinic and senior author of a recent sepsis overview in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, explains sepsis symptoms and risk factors, the difference between severe sepsis and septic shock, and how sepsis is typically treated: What is sepsis?Sepsis occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammatory responses throughout the body. This inflammation can trigger a cascade of changes that can damage multiple organ systems, causing them to fail. “Many infections can cause it,” Dr. Peters says. “It is most common with bacterial infections, but you can get sepsis from other types of bugs also.” What are symptoms to watch for? A high fever; inability to keep fluids down; rapid heartbeat; rapid, shallow breathing; lethargy and confusion are among the signs. If sepsis is suspected, seek emergency care, Dr. Peters advises. Rapid intervention is critical. Journalists: Soundbites with Dr. Peters are available in the downloads. For interviews with Dr. Peters, please contact Sharon Theimer Mayo Clinic Public Affairs at 507-284-5005 or newsbureau@mayo.edu.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic announced today the update of the Mayo Clinic app, available as a free download from Apple’s App Store. Mayo’s flagship mobile app now includes access to radiology images and Touch ID, and is compatible with Apple’s Passbook. Touch ID Apple users now can more easily and securely authenticate access to the Mayo Clinic app on-the-go from any iOS 8-enabled device. The patient’s fingerprint is the password and with a touch of the home button on the device, the Touch ID sensor quickly reads the fingerprint and automatically logs into the Mayo Clinic app. Passbook Users of the Mayo Clinic app can now leave their Mayo Clinic patient appointment guide at home. Upcoming appointments appear as a pass within the Passbook app. Users can see their appointment details from the lock screen of their iOS device with a simple swipe of the appointment pass. Radiology images Patients will now have anywhere, anytime access to their radiology images and reports within the Mayo Clinic app. This gives patients flexibility and greater access to their health information. These images are for a patient’s information only, and not meant to be used for diagnostic purposes. The Mayo Clinic app also integrates with Apple Health, providing users a clear and current overview of their health and fitness data.