ISTANBUL and ROCHESTER, Minn. — Koç Healthcare and Mayo Clinic have announced that two Koç Healthcare hospitals, American Hospital and Koç University Hospital, are the newest members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

American Hospital and Koç University Hospital are the first institutions in Europe to join the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a group of carefully vetted healthcare organizations with special access to Mayo Clinic's knowledge and expertise.

The announcement ceremony on Sept. 18 was attended by Erhan Bulutcu, M.D., CEO of Koç Healthcare (Vehbi Koç Foundation Healthcare Institutions), Sergin Akpek, M.D., executive medical director of international corporate relations and medical director of American Hospital, and Mohamad Bydon, M.D., executive medical director of academic affairs and the Europe, Middle East, India and Africa regions at Mayo Clinic.

"To be part of the healthcare ecosystem of the future, it is crucial to collaborate with technology and industry companies, universities and hospitals, and insurance companies," Dr. Bulutcu says. "Mayo Clinic's past successes and its pioneering efforts in diagnostic and therapeutic innovations for future medical applications inspired us to collaborate with them. To join the Mayo Clinic Care Network, which has only a few members outside the U.S., we went through a six-month due diligence process. We share a common vision for the future of healthcare and demonstrated our past successes through evidence-based practices."

"As the American Hospital, we have experienced the pride of providing continuous healthcare services to the people of this geography for hundreds of years," Dr. Akpek says. "The number of patients we touch has increased significantly in recent years with the experiences we have transferred to Koç Healthcare and our other hospitals and our corporate culture. With the acquisition of Koç University Faculty of Medicine, we started to make a difference in the field of education and research. Undoubtedly, the importance that the institution has given to international collaborations for many years has a great role behind this progress. The collaboration we have initiated today with Mayo Clinic will take the American Hospital and Koç University Hospital even further in the fields of service, education and research."

"Mayo Clinic is pleased to welcome two Koç Healthcare facilities, American Hospital and Koç University Hospital, to the Mayo Clinic Care Network," Dr. Bydon says. "As we have worked together toward today's announcement, we have been impressed by the cultural alignment of the organizations. We are proud of our common purpose – to bring the highest quality patient care to the region – and look forward to this new collaboration."

Through membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, physicians at American Hospital and Koç University Hospital have access to Mayo Clinic clinical tools and services, including:

AskMayoExpert

This point-of-care tool offers concise clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions and includes medical protocols, treatment recommendations and medical references. The database can be used wherever healthcare is provided.

eBoards

These live, scheduled video conferences enable medical teams at American Hospital and Koç University Hospital to review and discuss complex cases with a Mayo Clinic multidisciplinary panel and other doctors in the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

Healthcare Consulting

American Hospital and Koç University Hospital have access to Mayo's extensive experience, knowledge and subspecialty expertise to attain clinical, operational and business goals.

Staff from American Hospital and Koç University Hospital also can use Mayo Clinic educational materials designed for patients and access opportunities for professional development and continuous medical education.

In addition, Mayo Clinic will conduct an in-depth evaluation of the current state and future aspirations of Koç University Hospital's medical education and clinical research infrastructure and goals. Koç University Hospital will use the information for future planning.

American Hospital, Koç University Hospital and other members of Mayo Clinic Care Network remain independent. Created in 2011, Mayo Clinic Care Network has more than 45 member organizations across the U.S., and in Asia, India, Mexico and the Middle East.

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About Koç Healthcare
Koç Healthcare is the umbrella brand for the healthcare institutions within the Koç Group. It provides healthcare services in Turkey and the region with more than 8,000 employees. American Hospital, with over 100 years of history, is known for its high-quality nursing and patient care, cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment technologies, and administrative systems and processes, consistently delivering healthcare services at the highest international standards. Koç University Hospital, in a short time, has become a leader in medical and nursing education, clinical research, and patient care and treatment in Turkey among university hospitals. Find out more about Koç Healthcare's specialized medical care for your healthcare needs by visiting www.kochealthcare.org.

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 contacts:

• Gülben Erkmen, Koç Healthcare corporate communications executive, gulbener@amerikanhastanesi.org
• Rhoda Madson, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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