News Releases

ROCHESTER, Minn. — When it comes to healthful eating, a picture may be worth 1,000 calories. MayoClinic.com now features a dozen slide ...

MINNEAPOLIS — David Etzwiler has been named executive director of the Decade of Discovery, an initiative dedicated to preventing, treating and curing Type 1 and ...

This morning, Fortune magazine named Mayo Clinic to its select list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2012. This is Mayo's ninth consecutive year on the magazine's annual compilation of companies that rate high with employees. The list ranks Mayo Clinic 71 overall among the top 100 companies, and 23 among 38 large employers (more than 10,000 employees). "I am proud of our employees for they truly earn Mayo Clinic this national recognition, and for that we thank them," says John Noseworthy, M.D., Mayo Clinic president and CEO. "Mayo Clinic is able to be successful in meeting the needs of our patients because the people who choose to work here are unequalled in their commitment and their integrity, as well as in their skills." Shirley Weis, Mayo Clinic chief administrative officer, adds "Our employees are the true strength of Mayo Clinic. We receive many awards each year for what we do, but the beauty of this award is it recognizes the value of the people who work here. As leaders, we set the vision for the organization, but it is our employees who achieve it." On its "100 Best" Web site, Fortune cites Mayo Clinic as one among nine companies noted for the use of social media to communicate with and engage employees. Fortune also features Mayo Clinic in its "They're hiring!" story and in its "Perkfinder" chart of best companies' top employee benefits.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Results of two studies suggest that a new, investigational colorectal cancer screening test developed in a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Exact Sciences Inc. of Madison, Wis., is highly accurate and significantly more sensitive than other noninvasive tests at detecting precancerous tumors (adenomas) and early-stage cancer. These findings have important implications for clinicians and tens of thousands of Americans. Early detection is a key driver of better outcomes for colorectal cancer — a disease that affects 1 in every 17 persons and is the second-leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths. VIDEO ALERT: Additional audio and video resources, including excerpts from an interview with Dr. David Ahlquist describing the research, are available on the Mayo Clinic News Blog. The first study, to be published in the February issue of Gastroenterology, shows that a new multi-marker stool DNA test is highly accurate at detecting precancerous polyps and early-stage colorectal cancer. This is the first large-scale, blinded study to measure the new test's effectiveness. The second study, to be published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, shows that the stool DNA test is significantly more accurate than a new plasma test for identifying patients with large precancerous polyps or colorectal cancer, while delivering fewer false-positive results.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — When it comes to healthful eating, a picture may be worth 1,000 calories. MayoClinic.com now features a dozen slide shows on food and nutrition topics including how to plan healthy meals and serve right-sized portions. Other recent additions include the Mediterranean diet, as well as fresh fruit and vegetable recipes. "These photos literally can, at a glance, convey ways to save 1,000 calories," says Jennifer Nelson, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic. A typical steak and fries meal at a restaurant tallies up to a whopping 1,500 calories. The steak and fries together cover half the plate. "A more healthful steak dinner is one with more variety and more appropriate portion sizes," says Nelson. MayoClinic.com shows an example with steak and brown rice each covering a quarter of the plate. The rest of the plate is filled with vegetables. Fruit, salad and skim milk round out the meal. And it's all under 500 calories. "A quick look at these slide shows offers new, creative — and easy — ideas on food preparation and healthy eating," says Nelson.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Many athletes know the frustration of being sidelined by tendon disorders, like Achilles tendinitis and tennis elbow. In recent years, doctors have begun treating overused tendons with regenerative therapies that jump-start the body's own healing process. One technique, a tenotomy, uses repeated needlesticks to break up scar tissue in the tendon, prompting the body's own cells to begin the rebuilding process. Another technique is an injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP), a concentrated dose of healing platelet cells that exist in the patient's blood. In a recent study published in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that the combination of tenotomy and PRP injections produced significant improvement in patients with long-standing tendon injuries. "These disorders can be hard to treat, and patients tend to receive one therapy or the other, depending on what a doctor happens to offer. Our study was the first clinical study to investigate the combination of both treatments in injured tendons," says study author Jay Smith, M.D., of Mayo Clinic's Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. The study included 34 patients with a wide range of tendon and soft tissue injuries, from rotator cuff tendinitis to plantar fasciitis, an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. In the first stage of the two-part treatment, researchers used high-resolution ultrasound technology to guide a needle to the injured area, and the physicians repeatedly poked the tendon with the needle, inducing minor bleeding within the tissue.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Administrative burdens and limits on reimbursement are among the obstacles keeping hospitals from choosing to implement potentially lifesaving telemedicine programs, according to a study published in the January/February issue of Telemedicine and e-Health. The study by researchers from Mayo Clinic in Arizona, C3O Medical Group in Ojai, Calif., and UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, surveyed emergency and critical care telemedicine users to determine factors that motivate and barriers that impede development of a robotic telemedicine program. VIDEO ALERT: Click here to view comments about the study. Telemedicine provides timely medical expertise to patients who have medical emergencies but do not have ready access to specialized medical centers. For instance, in Arizona, Mayo Clinic operates a telestroke program featuring a robot that allows a stroke patient in a rural emergency department the opportunity to be seen in real time by a specialized stroke neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. The study results are not surprising, says Bart Demaerschalk, M.D., a neurologist and professor of neurology, director of the Mayo Clinic Telestroke Program and co-author of the study. He says the study revealed that the primary impediments to continued success in telemedicine are: Licensing restrictions The administrative burden of giving physicians privileges and credentials to engage in telemedicine and lining up malpractice insurance Limitations in ability for billing and reimbursement

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Even black-diamond skiers and snowboarders enjoying a weekend on the slopes can have their season spoiled by an injury that happens on the last run of the day. But the end-of-the-day tweaks and spills are more common than you'd think, says physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Ed Laskowski, M.D., of Mayo Clinic. Muscle fatigue at the end of the day can lead to sloppy technique and injuries such as a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, which can require surgery and intensive rehabilitation. Dr. Laskowski, a former elite skier who turned his career to medicine, says that recreational skiers can take steps to optimize their protection from injury. VIDEO ALERT: Additional audio and video resources, including excerpts from an interview with Dr. Laskowski are available on the Mayo Clinic News Blog. Physical preparation before a big ski weekend can go a long way, according to Dr. Laskowski, who specializes in fitness, wellness, strength-and-stability training, and sports injury prevention strategies. To gear up for a ski holiday, people can do conditioning exercises that make the sport safer: Endurance exercises, especially with an aerobic component, can help train the muscles so fatigue doesn't lead to injury at the end of an 8 hour ski day. Strength training that focuses on the major muscle groups in the legs, especially those used in skiing, can help skiers stabilize and control their bodies. Core exercises to help link upper and lower body movements are also important, as are balance exercises that emphasize stability. "Ski specific" exercises can help train for the side-to-side motions required by the sport. One simple but effective exercise to prepare for skiing is to practice jumping from side to side over a line of tape on the floor, using both feet and then using one foot at a time.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Healthy Living at Mall of America will host a fun, engaging and educational health fair centered on the facility's five themes: eat well, sleep, move, relax and discover. The fair will include healthy eating education, including a cooking demonstration featuring Saint Paul-based Cooks of Crocus Hill, a meditation area featuring the Mayo Clinic Meditation app, hands-on workouts for adults and kids, and complimentary blood pressure and body mass index screenings. Mayo Clinic Healthy Living wants to inspire and challenge people to stay healthy this year and in the years to come. WHO: Mayo Clinic health navigators and clinical staff WHAT: Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Fair WHERE: Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Rotunda, Mall of America 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425 WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 1–5 p.m.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic nephrologist and researcher Rajiv Kumar, M.D., has been selected to receive the highest professional recognition from the American College of Physicians, the John Phillips Memorial Award, one of the most prestigious honors in internal medicine. Dr. Kumar is internationally recognized for his research accomplishments in nephrology, mineral metabolism and endocrinology, specifically bone disease in the context of kidney failure and the regulation of phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. "Dr. Kumar helped train a generation of nephrologists and served as chair of nephrology with distinction," says Morie Gertz, M.D., chair of internal medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. "His contributions to the understanding of vitamin D and its effects on bone are important enough to impact daily on the lives of patients."

ROCHESTER, Minn. — When back pain is persistent or slowly worsens, spinal stenosis may be the culprit, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing in one or more areas of the spine. Different types of problems can reduce the space within the spinal canal. Most are age related. One cause is osteoarthritis, which results in wearing away of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in the joints. In the spine, osteoarthritis may narrow the space between the vertebrae. Bony growths or disk bulges may form. Bone surfaces may rub together, resulting in pain and inflammation. Disk degeneration is another common cause of spinal stenosis. With age, the cushions between the vertebrae flatten and bulge. Eventually, the outer coverings of the disk may tear, allowing the jellylike substance in the disk's center to protrude and press on the spinal cord and nerve roots. The result can be pain that starts in the buttock area and radiates down the leg. The range of treatment options include: Medications: Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve, others) can help. Some studies have shown that certain antidepressants may reduce pain associated with spinal stenosis, too. For severe pain, doctors may prescribe medication containing narcotics for a short time. Exercise and physical therapy: Good options are exercises that strengthen the abdominal and back muscles, build strength and endurance, and maintain flexibility and stability of the spine. Steroid injections: This involves injecting cortisone into the space around the spinal cord to help decrease inflammation and swelling. Alternative therapies: Acupuncture and chiropractic manipulation may ease pain related to spinal stenosis. Weight loss: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the stress on arthritic joints and reduce pain.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A flu-like illness isn't always the flu. It could be a fungal infection picked up when traveling. The January issue of ...