Only State System to Showcase History of Legendary Medical System
A mobile exhibit celebrating Mayo Clinic’s 150 years of innovation and history will make its only stop in Wisconsin on Thurs., July 31, at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.
“Mayo Clinic Mobile Exhibit: 150 Years of Serving Humanity” will be open from noon to 6 p.m. ThedaCare was selected as a host site since it’s the only Wisconsin health care system to be a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, which gives ThedaCare specialists and physicians direct access to Mayo Clinic experts and clinical resources. Those tools, including eConsults and AskMayoExpert, enhance the support available to manage complex cases, allowing more patients to continue care in their communities.
Hosting the 1,000-square-feet multi-media exhibit celebrating Mayo Clinic’s long history of innovation and patient success stories is the ideal way to celebrate ThedaCare’s first year of being part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, said Ashley Ebben, ThedaCare's Mayo Clinic Care Network Coordinator.
“The mobile exhibit takes you on a comprehensive and engaging journey through the 150 year history of Mayo Clinic,” she said. “Joining the Care Network has allowed ThedaCare to become a part of the story and part of Mayo Clinic history.”
The exhibit features a special film narrated by award-winning journalist Tom Brokaw, member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, and music provided by Chip Davis, a loyal Mayo Clinic patient and founder of Mannheim Steamroller. Visitors will also see examples of new research to prevent and treat diseases; Mayo Clinic's care for members of the military; Mayo’s impact around the world; and stories of patients and families whose lives have been transformed.
Since joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network last fall, 68 ThedaCare-aligned physicians across 23 specialties submitted 172 electronic consultations on complex cases to Mayo specialists. Of those eConsults, 86 percent confirmed local treatment, keeping patients closer to home. “Our physicians and patients have access to Mayo Clinic expertise for complex medical conditions right here at home. That means less travel and less worry for our patients,” Ebben said.
Myah Ellsworth is one such patient. The little girl was diagnosed with eosinophilic fasciitis, a skin disease that causes thickening and inflammation, at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and her grueling treatment, which includes daily doses of prednisone and methotrexate, didn’t seem to be making a difference. The girl’s parents asked ThedaCare pediatrician Jennifer Hunt, MD, about possibly taking her to Mayo Clinic to get their opinion. But Ellsworth’s disease can make long car rides very painful so Dr. Hunt suggested an eConsult, which are done at no charge to the patient.
“It was fantastic. The specialist at Mayo Clinic reviewed more than 80 pages of Myah’s medical record within 48 hours and got back to us with his opinion,” Dr. Hunt said. “We found out that we are on the right path and that Myah’s treatment will take time. This whole process was so expeditious and satisfying for everyone, especially for Myah’s family.”
The Mayo Clinic Care Network represents non-ownership relationships with Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. Members share a commitment to improve the quality and delivery of health care. Mayo Clinic established the network in 2011 to extend knowledge and expertise to physicians and providers interested in working together to benefit patients and enhance the delivery of health care at the local level. The network has member organizations in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Puerto Rico in the United States, and in Mexico.
ThedaCare™ is a community health system consisting of seven hospitals: Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, Shawano Medical Center, and Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. Community Health Network, which includes Community Memorial Hospital in Berlin, and Wild Rose Memorial Hospital are in the process of affiliating with ThedaCare. ThedaCare also includes ThedaCare Physicians, ThedaCare Behavioral Health, and ThedaCare At Home. ThedaCare is one of the largest employers in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 6,175 employees. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
