Mayo Clinic in the News is a weekly highlights summary of major media coverage. If you would like to be added to the weekly distribution list, send a note to Emily Blahnik with this subject line: SUBSCRIBE to Mayo Clinic in the News. Thank you.

Editor, Karl Oestreich;  Assistant Editor: Emily Blahnik

Advisory Board
Mayo Clinic got 'five stars'—but its CEO still doesn't like how CMS rates hospitals

CMS' five-star rating system for overall hospital quality—and similar systems that purport to measure health care quality—are too reductionist and need to be changed, Mayo Clinic CEO John Noseworthy argues in a Modern Healthcare op-ed. You might think, given that CMS awarded Mayo Clinic five stars, that Noseworthy would praise the ratings system. But Noseworthy argues that "many measurement programs currently in use ... do not differentiate complexity of patient conditions nor account for their settings of care, which results in inaccurate reports on value."

Reach: The Advisory Board Company is a global research, technology, and consulting firm partnering with more than 165,000 leaders in more than 4,100 organizations across health care and higher education.

Previous coverage in October 28, 2016 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Context: John Noseworthy, M.D. is Mayo Clinic President and CEO.

Contact: Duska Anastasijevic

 

Hospitals & Health Networks
Experts Take on the Big Picture of Value-Based Payment
by Brian Frankie

Value-based payment is coming to health care. And its complications are something we have to understand. That was the message of panelists Wednesday during a session at the H&HN Executive Forum in Chicago on value-based payment and purchasing and what can make it successful…Much of the discussion, led by moderator Robert Nesse, M.D., senior medical adviser for payment reform to the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors and former Mayo Clinic Health System CEO, focused on leveraging data to track value.

Reach: Hospitals & Health Networks is a monthly magazine with a circulation of more than 77,000 that reports on and analyzes the social, political and economic forces that shape healthcare delivery. Its website has more than 21, 000 unique visitors each month. The publication targets health care executives and clinical leaders in hospitals and health systems.

Context: Robert Nesse, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine physician in Lake City, Minn. and he also serves as senior medical director, Payment Reform at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Nesse is also former CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System, a network of clinics and hospitals serving more than 70 communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Contact: Duska Anastasijevic

 

TIME
You Asked: Should I Go Gluten Free?
by Markham Heid

Gluten is a type of elastic grain protein that helps wheat, rye and barley hold their shape. Because of its glue-like properties, gluten is often added to other food products—pasta, sauces, crackers, baked goods—to thicken or bind those products together. “These kinds of junk foods and refined carbohydrates promote weight gain and diabetes and disease,” says Dr. Joseph Murray, a professor of medicine and a gluten researcher at Mayo Clinic. So if you’re eating a lot of cookies, crackers and other grain-based snack foods, any diet that limits your intakes of them is bound to do your health some good. “But for those who don’t suffer from celiac disease, gluten isn’t inherently bad, and gluten-free foods aren’t inherently healthy,” he says.

Reach: Time magazine covers national and international news and provides analysis and perspective of these events. The weekly magazine has a circulation of 3.2 million readers and its website has 4.6 million unique visitors each month.

Context: Joseph Murray, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and hepatologist with the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Dr. Murray's research interests focus in two distinct areas: celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and enteropathy; and esophageal disorders, particularly esophageal functional disorders, particularly reflux, and the detection of atypical reflux.

Contact: Joe Dangor

 

Florida Times-Union
Health Notes: Mayo Cancer Center at St. Vincent’s now open
by Charlie Patton

The Mayo Cancer Center at St. Vincent’s has opened. The collaboration between Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus and St. Vincent’s HealthCare brings Mayo Clinic’s cancer services to patients in a newly built 11,500-square-foot medical suite on the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside campus. Mayo Clinic is staffing the facility with physicians from its Department of Hematology/Oncology. St. Vincent’s is assuming the remaining clinical and administrative responsibilities. The cancer services include medical oncology, an infusion center for chemotherapy, and multidisciplinary disease specialized care for various types of cancer. An official blessing and dedication ceremony will be held Monday.

Reach: The Florida Times-Union reaches more than 120,000 daily and 173,000 readers Sunday.

Previous coverage in October 21, 2016 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Context: To deliver Mayo Clinic’s nationally ranked comprehensive cancer care to more people in Northeast Florida, the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center located at St. Vincent’s Riverside will open to patients on Oct. 17. The collaboration between Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus and St. Vincent’s HealthCare, a part ofAscension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system, brings Mayo Clinic’s cancer services to patients in a newly built 11,500-square-foot medical suite on the campus of St. Vincent’s Riverside. “We are excited to launch this community collaboration and we look forward to further meeting the needs of cancer patients, right here in their own community,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., CEO, Mayo Clinic in Florida.  “This community collaboration will enable patients to receive cancer care at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center at St. Vincent’s and come to Mayo’s San Pablo Road campus when they need highly complex care, such as bone marrow transplants.” More information can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Paul Scotti

 

Wall Street Journal
Boy’s Cardiac Death Led to Misuse of Genetic Test, Study Says
by Ron Winslow

A 13-year-old boy’s sudden cardiac death led doctors to wrongly diagnose more than 20 of his relatives with a potentially lethal heart disorder in a case that illustrates the potential for genetic testing to go wrong… The search for a genetic cause of the teenager’s death was done with “good intentions,” said Michael Ackerman, a cardiologist and director of the Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. But “the entire clinical evaluation was a train wreck, where wrong conclusions led to wrong turns and resulted in wrong therapies.”

Reach: The Wall Street Journal, a US-based newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company, has an average circulation of 2.3 million daily which includes print and digital versions.

Context: The sudden death of a 13-year-old boy resulted in more than 20 relatives to be incorrectly diagnosed as having a potentially lethal heart rhythm condition. This erroneous diagnosis occurred as a result of inappropriate use of genetic testing and incorrect interpretation of genetic test results, according to Mayo Clinic research published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. This case highlights the potential danger of genetic testing when it is used incorrectly and the great need to not only use this powerful tool carefully and wisely but to scrutinize the results with great caution, says senior author Michael J. Ackerman, M.D., Ph.D., genetic cardiologist and director of Mayo Clinic’s Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory. “While the technological advances in genetic sequencing have been exponential, our ability to interpret the results has not kept pace,” he says. More information cane be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Additional coverage: STAT, CNN, Immortal News, KIMT, Raw Story, Science Daily, Cardiovascular Business, Healthcare Business News, GenomeWeb, FOX News, Motherboard, News4Jax, Becker’s Health IT & CIO Review, The Scientist

Contact: Traci Klein

Becker’s ASC Review, Mayo Clinic, ASU to offer certificate in healthcare cost management: 5 insights by Megan Wood — Phoenix-based Arizona State University and Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic entered an alliance to create a medical certificate program, according to Healthcare IT News. Here are five insights…

Midwest Home magazine, Mayo’s Well Living Lab Studies Healthy Indoor Spaces — We know that “sick buildings” can threaten our health with poor indoor air quality caused by mold and VOCs, but can our homes and offices also make us well? Mayo Clinic and New York design and technology firm Delos aim to find out with their new collaboration on the Well Living Lab, a modular research lab at Mayo Clinic in Rochester that can be reconfigured to simulate offices, apartments, classrooms, and single-family homes. Researchers will study how factors such as air quality, light, sound, and temperature work together to affect everything from productivity to sleep to mood.

KJZZ, Joseph Sirven: Shared Decision-Making — I woke up one day with excruciating pain over my left flank and knew something was very wrong. This led to an emergency room visit accompanied by my wife and son with what turned out to be a kidney stone…. My story is an example of a modern healthcare management concept, shared decision-making. This buzzword codified in the Affordable Care Act is a way of improving quality and cutting costs and requires both patient and doctor to share all decisions, holding both accountable.

CNN, Kids get swine flu from pigs at state fairs, CDC reports by Susan Scutti  —The CDC looked at all the samples from the 18 infected people, and a genome sequencing analysis identified two H3N2 variant viruses. Sixteen were "reassortant," meaning they include gene segments from human viruses as well as swine viruses. This "is a little concerning," said Dr. Greg Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic's vaccine research group. One of the genes, "being of human origin, puts that virus in a position where it is more likely to be transmitted from human to human." This same gene may also make the flu resistant to a class of antiviral drugs, including amantadine and rimantadine.

Wall Street Journal, Why a Hospital Has a Harmonica Band by Sumathi Reddy — Medical experts say there is no scientific proof that playing the harmonica improves lung function. Still, harmonica classes have started at hospitals and clinics around the country amid indications that the practice may confer a variety of benefits. …There are a number of other harmonica groups for rehab patients, including at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif. The Harmonicats play at UCHealth in Aurora, Colo. At Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., Larry Rawdon, a retired Broadway cellist, has been teaching the harmonica to lung-transplant patients since 2013.

New York Times, Talking to Your Therapist About Election Anxiety by Lesley Alderman — It has been described as one of the most contentious, tawdry and angry presidential elections in history. And it’s taking a toll on our mental health. “People are wondering, how can I feel safe? Who will take care of us?” said Dr. Robert Bright, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. “Everyone I talk to is very concerned about this election.” Additional coverage: Yahoo! News

The Sacramento Bee, Ovary removal dangerous for young women by Sammy Caiola — A Mayo Clinic study released last week reveals that premenopausal women who undergo bilateral oophorectomy, or double ovarian removal surgery, to prevent ovarian cancer may be putting themselves at higher risk for other chronic conditions such as coronary artery disease, arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease down the line. The research suggests that the premature loss of estrogen after the surgery “may affect a series of aging mechanisms at the cellular and tissue level across the whole body leading to diseases in multiple systems and organs,” according to a Mayo Clinic news release.

International Business Times, Holiday Season Stress: How To Stay Happy And Calm As Thanksgiving And Christmas Approach by Juliana Rose Pignataro — Maintaining habits like exercise and healthy eating can limit how bad you’ll end up feeling after the season is over. Remembering that the holidays don’t have to be perfect is a good way to avoid unnecessary stress, as well, the Mayo Clinic advises. If the holidays already have you feeling emotionally drained, acknowledge that its normal and seek support from friends, family, or a professional.

Live Science, 10 Interesting Facts About Caffeine by Cari Nierenberg — The Food and Drug Administration considers 400 milligrams a safe amount of caffeine for healthy adults to consume daily. However, pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg a day, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (One cup of coffee usually has about 100 to 200 mg, a cup of tea usually has no more than 70 mg and most sodas have less than 50 mg, according to the Mayo Clinic.) The Mayo Clinic suggests that teens limit their caffeine intake to 100 mg a day and recommends that younger children avoid caffeine

Science, Are old cells breaking our hearts? by Mitch Leslie — In their new study, Van Deursen and colleagues tried to determine the role of senescent cells in atherosclerosis. Previous studies have disagreed about the cells’ impact on plaque formation, with some suggesting that they promote it and others indicating that they help prevent it. To tackle the question, Van Deursen and his team used mice that had been genetically engineered to kill off many of their senescent cells in response to a particular drug. The researchers let the mice chow down on a fat-rich diet for 3 months and dosed some of them with the drug.

Twin Cities Business, MN Hospitals Match Or Beat National Averages Of Quality Care Measures by Sam Schaust — Figures released on Tuesday by MN Community Measurement show Minnesota hospitals had average or above average performance compared to hospitals around the nation when treating heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. In all three cases, the Minneapolis-based health care data nonprofit said that Mayo Clinic in Rochester had the lowest mortality rate in the state. Mayo’s rate for heart attack was 11.6 percent, for heart failure it was 9.4 percent, and for pneumonia it was 12.3 percent.

KIMT, Mosaic installed 50 years ago uncovered in lobby of Methodist Hospital by DeeDee Stiepan — In 1966 a mosaic mural was installed and then dedicated in Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Hospital. It was on display for many years, but when the lobby had to be remodeled, a protective wall was built around the artwork to preserve it and it hasn’t been seen in years. Now, 50 years later, part of that mural is being uncovered.. The Director of Heritage Hall, the Museum at Mayo Clinic, Matthew Dacy it was uncovered celebrate the 50th anniversary of it first being dedicated.

National Pain Report, 14 Tips for Less Painful Mammograms by Donna Gregory Burch — Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it would be worthwhile to figure out if there’s anything women with fibromyalgia (or other pain conditions) can do to minimize the discomfort of mammography. I reach out to several breast imaging experts across the country and asked them to share their tips for less painful mammograms. Here’s their best advice…If you’re pre-menopausal, don’t schedule your mammogram right before or during your menstrual cycle. “That’s when breasts are really tender already from the hormonal changes that occur before you’re about to menstruate,” said Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, associate professor of general internal medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “We tell them to wait 7-14 days [after the start of menstruation] when the hormonal changes are the least likely to bother you.”

State Press, We need to stop sweeping ASU’s premedical program under the rug by Gabby Hirneise — Although ASU does not have a graduate medical school like UA, its biological sciences undergraduate program offers more than adequate preparation for medical school and a career in medicine. In fact, ASU’s Barrett, the Honors College has been working closely with the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and Phoenix to prepare undergraduate students for careers in medicine.  With the opening of the Mayo Clinic medical school at the Scottsdale and Phoenix campuses, this comes as no surprise. One could say that with this close collaboration, the Mayo Clinic is tailoring these undergraduate pre-health students to fit the standards of this new school.

MSN Canada, 6 Ways Your Desk Job Is Killing Your Body — The Mayo Clinic links sitting for long periods of time with obesity and metabolic disorders like high cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. Those conditions come with their own sets of dangers, such as cardiovascular disease. “The muscle activity needed for standing and other movement seems to trigger important processes related to the breakdown of fats and sugars within the body,” the article says. “When you sit, these processes stall — and your health risks increase. When you're standing or actively moving, you kick the processes back into action.”

ActionNewsJax, Doctors warn of bacteria in salt water after Jacksonville officer almost dies by Letisha Bereola — Doctors are warning people with open cuts to avoid salt water after a Jacksonville officer contracted a dangerous bacteria and almost died. Vanda Bhide, a Mayo Clinic internist, said the bacteria Vibrio is a serious threat lurking in salty or brackish water. “It’s such a powerful bacteria," Bhide said. "It can cause a really, really devastating infection."

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Adults with special needs gain employable skills and self-confidence through internships by Elizabeth Dohms — A typical day for Meredith Kieffer might include delivering beverages to patients at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, folding washcloths and helping patients discharge from the hospital. Kieffer is one of 11 interns at Mayo Clinic participating in an effort for students with intellectual or learning disabilities. Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is led by former special education teacher Tim Burns. The unpaid internship that runs for nine months and follows a similar schedule to the Eau Claire school district strives to improve employability for adults with disabilities.

KAAL, Transportation a Major Focus in Rochester Ben Henry — Incumbent Rochester City Council President Randy Staver, and his challenger Sean Allen, both agree these plans need to speed up. "I think we really need to enhance our transit system; the city has been pretty lax in doing that,” said Allen on ABC 6 News. “We have a system that just brings people in and out of downtown to Mayo Clinic, but we need to help second shift workers, third shift workers, we need to help kids that need to go to school and to the library, their jobs. So, I really support enhancing that transit system right away, we can't afford to wait," he added.

Healio, Researchers define ‘skip phenomenon’ in patients with aureus  bacteremia — Justin Fiala, MD, of the internal medicine department at the Mayo Clinic, described a period of fluctuating blood culture positivity in which there is a recurrence of S. aureus bacteremia infection following a negative blood culture, despite the patients receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy. This discrete finding, which he termed the “skip phenomenon,” had not previously been described in the literature, he said.  Fiala and colleagues retrospectively reviewed a cohort of adult inpatients with 3 or more days of S. aureus bacteremia at the Mayo Clinic from a previous trial conducted between July 2006 and June 2011.

Healthcare Business, Mayo Clinic study shows that choice of medical center impacts life expectancy of multiple myeloma patients — "Studies on cancer surgery have shown the more experience the center or practitioner has, the better the outcome," states study author Ronald Go, M.D., a hematologist and health care delivery researcher at Mayo Clinic. "It is very difficult to be proficient when doctors are seeing only one or two new cases of multiple myeloma per year. We wanted to see if volume matters when it comes to nonsurgical treatment of rare cancers such as multiple myeloma."

Tampa Bay Times, Mayo Clinic Q and A: food's effect on hypothroidism; endometrial cancer — Concern surrounding the impact of spinach, kale and other similar vegetables, including broccoli and cauliflower, on thyroid health is due to the effect they can have on the thyroid's ability to absorb iodine. Having enough iodine in your diet is crucial because your thyroid gland needs iodine to make T3 and T4. Eating a lot of these vegetables could limit your thyroid's uptake of iodine, but the amount you would need to eat is very large…John Morris III, M.D., Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

KTVZ Oregon, Mayo Clinic News Network: Can being bilingual delay Alzheimer's disease? — Studies on the connection between bilingualism and a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease have had conflicting results. Some studies have shown that if you know two or more languages — and you've been diagnosed as likely to develop Alzheimer's — you may experience a delay in the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms. Some researchers believe being bilingual or multilingual helps develop your brain's cognitive reserve in the same way that engaging in other mentally and socially stimulating activities does.

Star Tribune, Mayo Clinic dogs provide comfort for patients facing illness by Brett Boese — Ailing and alone, Denise Krivach lay at Mayo Clinic thinking the worst — until a ball of fur bounded up onto her bed in what's being described as a life-changing moment…Mayo Clinic dogs provide comfort for patients facing illness — After months of testing, Mayo specialists finally confirmed autoimmune encephalitis. In short, her immune system was attacking her brain. Her dreams dashed, Krivach underwent surgery and found herself lying in the hospital to face an uncertain future. Then Alta, a 4-year-old golden retriever, spent 45 minutes cuddling with her as part of Mayo's growing Caring Canines program. The connection between the two was immediate and has continued to this day. Additional coverage: Oswego County News, Winona Daily News

Chicago Tribune, Anti-aging startup backed by Fidelity, Bezos raises $116 million by Caroline Chen — A Silicon Valley drugmaker focused on anti-aging treatments has raised $116 million from investors to support the development of medicines designed to help people stay healthy as they grow older…Two of the Unity's co-founders, who work at the Mayo Clinic and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, published results on Thursday from a mouse study in the journal Science. The study shows that senescent cells are key drivers of plaque formation in atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque buildup narrows the arteries, potentially causing heart attacks or strokes. Additional coverage: Fortune, SiliconBeat

TechCrunch, Jeff Bezos, Mayo Clinic back anti-aging startup Unity Biotechnology for $116 million by Sarah Buhr — Unity Biotechnology is a startup focusing on medicines to help us do that by slowing the effects of age-related diseases. And the company announced it has pulled in a whopping $116 million in Series B financing today — some of which came from Amazon’s Jeff Bezos…The Scottish-based mutual fund Baillie Gifford, which has also invested in several biotech companies, also invested in this round — as did Venrock, ARCH Venture Capital, Mayo Clinic and WuXi Pharmaceuticals. Additional coverage: Fierce Biotech, Forbes, San Francisco Business Times, GeekWire

Modern Healthcare, Could medical devices be used in an attack like the one that took down Twitter? by Adam Rubenfire — …“We know that there are shortcomings with medical devices, and manufacturers are definitely stepping up their game, by the sounds of it, and hospitals are taking it seriously,” Leinonen said.H spitals can guard against hackers by ensuring they're keeping abreast of new threats and considering device security when they're comparing products during the purchasing process. He pointed to several hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., that have established cybersecurity standards for devices they buy.

Post-Bulletin, Two Mayo doctors earn prestigious honors by Brett Boese — Two Mayo Clinics doctors in Rochester have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, which is considered one of the highest honors in the health and medical field. Michael Yaszemski and Andrea Cheville were selected late last month for the prestigious designation. Only five Mayo employees have previously been elected to the academy, which has just 1,800 active members. "To have colleagues from distinct practice areas recognized in the same year is an incredible honor for them individually and for Mayo Clinic as a whole," Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy said. "Such recognition underscores the commitment of our physician-scientists in advancing research to address unmet patient needs, educating the next generation of physicians and scientists, and providing unparalleled care for patients and their families."

Post-Bulletin, Mayo Clinic receives high marks in state study by Brett Boese — Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester scored "significantly better" than the national average for treatment of heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia and its readmission reduction program. It was the only hospital in Minnesota to rate that well with regard to heart attacks and heart failure, while also being the only facility to be included in more than one category. "Mayo Clinic is honored to be recognized as the best hospital in Minnesota for treating heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia and for our readmission rates," said Dr. Paula Santrach, chief quality officer at Mayo Clinic.

Post-Bulletin, $3 million deal clears way for Discovery Square apartments — When McCormack presented to CUDE, the possible project was called Lofts on Third. Now, the Vinars have purchased the land with a corporation called Residence at Discovery Square. Does that mean the development is taking on the name of the nearby Destination Medical Center's subdistrict, Discovery Square? "Not necessarily," Vinar said. "The name is up in the air." Discovery Square is expected to cover about a six-block area including First, Second, Third and Fourth avenues. One of six subdistricts in Mayo Clinic's DMC initiative, Discovery Square is described as the hub for biomedicine, research and technology innovation. It is expected to house a variety of research firms working with Mayo Clinic. Work on it is expected to start next fall.

Post-Bulletin, DMC budgets fall by $1 million in 2017 by Andrew Setterholm — Destination Medical Center funding in 2017 was slimmed by about $1 million from this year as the city of Rochester sought to protect project funding from its sales tax revenue. The DMC Corp. Board of Directors formed a subcommittee to review the 2017 budgets. After four meetings, the group had cut back the budget of the DMC Corp by more than half and dialed back spending by the corporation's staff arm, the DMC Economic Development Agency. The Economic Development Agency, budgeted separately from the DMC Corp., has a budget of $3.9 million this year. Its budget will be shaved to about $3.5 million next year. Mayo Clinic will fund about $934,000 of that, with about $674,000 of Mayo's contribution going to staff benefits.

Post-Bulletin, Letter: One Mayo brother was courted as potential presidential candidate — In my many years as a Mayo Clinic patient, I have spent countless hours in the historical unit in the beautiful Plummer Building. Five years ago I donated my collection of Mayo Clinic memorabilia to them. I decided to start collecting Mayo/Rochester items again. One of my favorite items is a press release photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt attending a parade honoring the Mayo brothers in 1934. The Mayo family were devoted Democrats. Dr. William Worrell Mayo served as mayor and state senator…

Post-Bulletin, Treatment not usually necessary for asymptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy — DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was diagnosed with benign prostatic hypertrophy last year, and my doctor said at the time that there was no need for immediate treatment. Is it OK to wait to see a doctor again until symptoms appear, or would that be too late? Does treatment for it mean I will need surgery?...When benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, doesn't cause any symptoms, it's fine to postpone treatment. If you begin to notice urinary symptoms, though, talk to your doctor. Typically, treatment is based on how bothersome symptoms are and how much they affect your daily activities. — Todd Igel, M.D., Urology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla.

Post-Bulletin, Need to buy health insurance? Here's what you need to know by Heather J. Carlson — Only one insurance plan offered by Medica has Olmsted Medical Center in-network. That is Medica Applause. The insurance company is offering a second plan in the region called Medica with Mayo Clinic. That plan includes Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Mayo Health System facilities. It does not have Olmsted Medical Center in network. The only way to sign up for these Medica plans this year is via MNsure. Blue Cross/Blue Shield's Blue Plus plan being offered in southeast Minnesota includes Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Mayo Health System facilities.

Post-Bulletin, Mayo 'balancing' services at Austin, Albert Lea by Brett Boese — Mayo Clinic Health System is "working to balance services" on its Austin and Albert Lea campuses, a Mayo spokeswoman confirmed today amid reports of changes underway. Mayo spokeswoman Tami Yokiel responded to a Post-Bulletin request for information on reports of a major announcement at the facilities today. "Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin is a single practice with two campuses," Yokiel said by email.

Post-Bulletin, Letter: Joining union as food service worker offers stronger voice — I was one of the Sodexo food service workers at Mayo Clinic who voted to join the SEIU Healthcare Minnesota union. I've worked at Mayo for 16 years, and I hope this step will mean we can maintain working conditions so I can work at Mayo until I retire. We are excited to be unifying our voices, especially with the current plan to outsource all of our work to Morrison sometime next year. Joining together with the 350 Mayo food service workers who are already members of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota will mean that we will be stronger in our fight to make food service at Mayo Clinic successful for us as workers, the patients and staff we serve, and our whole community.

Post-Bulletin, Pedal power by Drew Setterholm — If a seasonal bike share was available between Mayo Clinic's Saint Marys campus and its downtown campus, would you bike instead of bus? Nice Ride Minnesota, the bike share program that launched in Rochester earlier this year, studied that idea Thursday by having about 40 bikes available at three locations. More than 70 people took the ride between campuses and reported back on their experiences, said Kim Edens, director of Nice Ride Rochester.

Healio, Allergan to acquire Motus following positive results for gastroparesis drug — “Patients with diabetic gastroparesis suffer greatly and have very limited treatment options,” Michael Camilleri, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic and advisor on the design and interpretation of the study, said in the press release. “The findings in this trial support initiating phase 3 clinical trials to confirm these phase 2b results with relamorelin for the treatment of moderate to severe diabetic gastroparesis.”

MobiHealthNews, AliveCor adds weight and activity to app, taps Mayo Clinic for ECG study by Heather Mack — Dr. Paul Friedman, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist who helped developed the intellectual property that went into the technology, said that the added insight from the ECG to quantify serum potassium brings a “significant enhancement to traditional morphology analysis.” “It’s exciting to see the application of machine learning algorithms in ECG and its potential to quickly detect rhythm abnormalities in patients,” Friedman said in a statement.

Healio, American Thyroid Association elects new officers — John C. Morris III, MD, has been elected president of the American Thyroid Association for 2016-2017. Morris served as secretary of the association for five years and was chosen as president-elect in 2015. Morris is professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, where he previously served as chair of the division of endocrinology, diabetes, metabolism and nutrition.

Finance & Commerce, Alatus asks for DMC border enlargement — Minneapolis developer Alatus LLC is asking Rochester officials to add onto the city’s Destination Medical Center zone to accommodate a 13-story apartment tower the company plans to build. Alatus founder Bob Lux asked the DMC Corporation’s board on Thursday to add onto the zone near the Mayo Clinic’s St. Marys Hospital to bring the project fully into the borders of the DMC. Slated for construction on 2.77 acres in the 1400 block of Second Street Southwest, the 349-unit, market-rate project is a joint development effort between Alatus and a group of Rochester investors who own the property where it would be built. Sixty-five percent of the property is currently in the DMC zone. Its full inclusion stands to benefit Rochester and the DMC project.

Telemundo Arizona, Inauguran "casita" para pacientes que esperan trasplante de órgano — Estadísticas indican que a nivel nacional más de 118 mil personas esperan un transplante de órgano. De ese total el 19% es latino. Arlety Gonzalez Chile nos explica la importancia de hacer un regalo de vida.

Healthcare Design, Mayo Clinic Expands In Northeast Florida by Anne DiNardo — Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has opened its doors at St. Vincent’s Riverside campus. The 11,500-square-foot medical suite is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus and St. Vincent’s HealthCare, a part of the Ascension non-profit health system. As part of the agreement, Mayo Clinic is staffing the facility with physicians from its department of hematology/oncology and St. Vincent’s is providing the remaining clinical and administrative services. Additional cover

KROC, Did You See This Flashmob at Mayo Clinic? — The flashmob was broadcast on Facebook live by Krishna Acharya from the Mayo Clinic. It features several couples slow-dancing to beautiful piano music.

Healthcare IT Analytics, Using Big Data Analytics, Systems Engineering to Tackle Sepsis by Jennifer Bresnick — At NC State’s Industrial Engineering and Systems Engineering department, Dr. Julie Ivy and her colleagues at Mayo Clinic and Christiana Care Health System in Delaware are working to outsmart sepsis using a combination of electronic health record data, machine learning, and a high-level look at how to reengineer the process of delivering care to potential sepsis cases… “One of the novel features of this project is the fact that we’re using data from two health systems, and they’re very different from each other,” she said. “Mayo Clinic is a destination health center that handles some of the most complex cases in the country.  There are certain things that happen there that don’t happen at a community-based delivery network like Christiana Care ...”

New Jersey Herald, Caring Canines — The Caring Canines program was started in 2004 after operating for years informally. A 13-pound miniature pinscher named Dr. Jack was among the best-known of the privately owned service dogs that were brought in to provide emotional support. Dr. Jack's retirement in 2013 (he has since died) closely coincided with Mayo's hiring of Jessica Smidt as healing enhancement therapy coordinator. Smidt, a former vet tech, has embraced the pooch program with gusto, expanding it from six to 30 dogs over the past two-plus years.

Drug Discovery & Development, Amazon CEO, Mayo Clinic Invest in Startup Exploring Anti-Aging Treatments by Ryan Bushey — Unity Biotechnology announced on October 27 it raised $116 million in financing from a group of investors including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and the Mayo Clinic’s venture capital arm. Unity’s early work is focusing on cellular senescence to help treat aging-related diseases. This biological process is an important mechanism that prevents the proliferation of potential cancer cells and could play a role in promoting tissue repair and fuel inflammation, according to the Journal of Cell Biology.

Startland News, Mayo Clinic taps FitBark and finds dogs aren’t terribly disruptive bedmates by Bobby Burch — Those with four-legged bedroom guests can rest assured that quality slumber usually remains a loyal companion, two studies found after analyzing data captured from Kansas City-based FitBark devices. The Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine conducted the first of two studies to explore the impact of pets on human health, and in this case, the effects they have on their caretakers’ quality of sleep. The studies both tapped data collected from FitBark’s wearable tech device that attaches to a dog’s collar to gather their activity information.

Chippewa Herald, Mayo Clinic Health System: Identifying types of diabetes by Lori Flynn — Those who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin to stay alive. People living with Type 1 diabetes also need to have an understanding of the body and how physical activity, mood, stress and different foods can affect blood sugars. No one is exactly sure what causes Type 1 diabetes, but it is not caused by eating sugar…Lori A. Flynn, R.N. Diabetes Education

Star2.com, Here’s why you don’t lose weight even though you exercise daily — Instead of giving up on your goals, realise that experiencing a weight loss plateau doesn’t mean you’ve reached the end of your weight loss journey. Reaching a weight loss plateau is simply a way for your body to tell you that losing weight means you’re losing a little muscle, too. As a result, your metabolism starts to slow down, which is a key factor in weight loss. “Even if you’re eating the same amount of calories that helped you lose weight in the first place, your metabolism will most likely slow down after you lose fat and muscle,” says Mary Green, Mayo Clinic Health System family nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife.

Northfield News, Mayo Clinic Health System expands services in Cannon Falls by Renee Brown — The Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls recently announced an expansion of their services. Donated funds have been designated for this project with the intent to build out the existing shell space on the main level. A retail pharmacy, optical shop and wellness center are scheduled to open in the spring of 2017. In the new space, patients can fill medications, purchase eyewear and utilize the fitness centers’ new equipment. The construction is scheduled to start in mid-November. Further details on the project will be shared as construction progresses.

DailyRX News, Bowel Problems? This Drug may Soothe the Pain by Erica Fitzgerald — For people who deal with irritable bowel syndrome it’s a common scenario: an ordinary dinner is interrupted by rumbles in the stomach, followed by discomfort and painful indigestion. New research suggests relief may be on the way. According to a press release issued by the Mayo Clinic, a new study found that patients dealing with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may find relief from pregabalin, a neuro-pain inhibitor commonly used to treat fibromyalgia. “There currently are limited treatment options available to fight the abdominal pain associated with IBS,” lead author Yuri Saito Loftus, MD, said in the press release. “We theorized that pregabalin could potentially be helpful.”

Duluth News Tribune, Mayo Clinic News Network: Home remedies: What to do about bad breath —There are many causes of bad breath, also called halitosis. Your mouth may be the source. The breakdown of food particles and other debris by bacteria in and around your teeth can cause a foul odor. If your mouth becomes dry, such as during sleep or after smoking, dead cells can accumulate and decompose on your tongue, gums and cheeks, causing odor. Eating foods containing oils with strong odor such as onions and garlic, can lead to bad breath.”

Fierce Healthcare, Emergency prep: C-suite's role in a disaster by Paige Minemyer — Mayo Clinic's hospitals train staff for potential emergencies that are common to their regions, such as hurricanes in Florida. But the organizations have guidelines in place for any range of potential problems, says David Marcelletti, vice chair of supply chain operations. The greatest challenge, he says, is trying to prepare for the disasters that can snowball from a large event. “Healthcare facilities face a never-ending challenge in preparing for disasters or pandemics and can never be too prepared,” Marcelletti says.

Medical News Today, Brain volume may help diagnose dementia with Lewy bodies by Tim Newman — Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, set out to investigate whether brain volume could be useful in diagnosing DLB at an earlier stage. Their findings are published this week in the journal Neurology. The research utilized 160 participants from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. All of the individuals had mild cognitive impairments - a slight but measurable reduction in cognitive abilities. People with mild cognitive impairments are known to be at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's or other types of dementia.

Healio, ‘Real-world’ data show promise for left atrial appendage closure device — “The benefit that [Dr. Reddy] has written about and the investigators have shown is an 80% reduction in hemorrhagic stroke,” David R. Holmes, MD, professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and consultant in the division of cardiovascular diseases and the department of internal medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said during a panel discussion following the press conference. Holmes was also an investigator for this trial. “No. 2, there is sustained improvement in terms of all-cause mortality that is bigger than anything that has been seen in a patient sample this size and that has been well documented.”

Medical Xpress, Research connects first-time kidney stone formers and chronic kidney disease — Research connects first-time kidney stone formers and chronic kidney disease. A Mayo Clinic team led by William Haley, M.D., and Andrew Rule, M.D., assessed a group of 384 stone formers three months after their first stone event to study the effect of kidney stones on their kidney function. "Even after adjusting for other risk factors, including urine chemistries, hypertension and obesity, we still found that those with a kidney stone episode had subsequent abnormal kidney function," says Dr. Rule. "This helps us better understand the long-term implications of kidney stones beyond recovery time." Additional coverage: KTTC, UPI

WLS-TV Chicago, Doctors using new Corus CAD test for heart health — The Mayo Clinic has just released a first-of-its-kind blood test that may be able to predict a heart attack five years before it happens. The test measures a class of lipids that researchers found are highly associated with chronic heart failure. Mayo Clinic researchers said their test is especially useful for identifying at-risk patients and starting them on a treatment of lipid-lowering drugs.

KAAL, Mayo Clinic To Sponsor Wit, Wisdom and Wine Event — Mayo clinic is stepping in to help the Rochester Public Library with a major fundraiser. After a corporate sponsor had to drop out, Mayo quickly took over the platinum sponsorship for the 16th annual Wit, Wisdom and Wine event; an event draws hundreds and raises money for hot spots, technology, materials and more.Advertisement With this being the biggest fundraiser for the library, they are looking forward to this upcoming event.

Owatonna People’s Press, United Way of Steele County presents Live United awards by Allison Miller — This year’s Community Volunteer Live United Award recipient is Brian Bunkers M.D., President and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System — Owatonna and Faribault. In addition to his leadership role, which he has held for the past 11 years, Dr. Bunkers is a Family Medicine Physician. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Transitional Housing, is a trustee for the Owatonna Foundation, and is Team Physician for Owatonna High School athletics and volunteer assistant with the OHS Cross Country team.“Dr. Bunkers is truly an example for all of us on how to make an impact in our community,” said, United Way Director, Kim Schaufenbuel.

LaCrosse Tribune, Cooking demo for seniors to show tricks with cooking, leftovers — An executive chef from Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare and Mayo-Franciscan dietitian Jennifer Kanikula will present the program, which is geared for anyone older than 50.“Malnutrition and obesity in senior citizens is a major concern,” Kanikula said. “Because of that, it’s important that we provide seniors with information and tips that can help them with preparing meals and incorporating fresh, healthy ingredients in their diets.”

Cannon Falls Beacon, Mayo Health - CF set for expansion — Exciting things are about to get underway at Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls. Just after two years of opening the doors to a brand new, state-of-the-art medical facility, the staff, patients and community in Cannon Falls will soon benefit from the medical center's expansion of services. Donated funds have been designated for this project with the intent to build out the existing shell space on the main level. "We are so fortunate to have donated funds along with continued community support which will enable us to proceed with this project," says Glenn Christian, operations manager at Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls. "Early on we recognized the need for these additional services within our community and are excited to have the opportunity to offer them to our staff, patients and the public."

Albert Lea Tribune, Hospice program celebrates 30 years by Sarah Stultz — A program offered to patients in their final stages of life has existed with Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for 30 years. The hospice program provides services to patients and their families, when a patient has a life expectancy of six months or less, said Renae Meaney, hospice supervisor with both the Albert Lea and Austin locations of Mayo Clinic Health System.

La Voz de Arizona, Villa de Clínica Mayo estrena nueva “casita” by Jackie Lopez — La “Villa de la Clínica Mayo” realmente le importa que sus pacientes se sientan como en su casa y es por esto que recientemente inauguraron la nueva “casita”. Ésta dará alojamiento a los pacientes de trasplante que viven fuera del estado y a las personas que los cuidan por muy bajo costo. La inauguración de la "casita" se realizó el 22 de octubre en honor a  Sam D. Baca, quien ha mostrado su generosidad hacia la clínica siendo el donante principal para este nuevo proyecto, por tal motivo el evento fue en su honor al igual que la nueva casita que lleva su nombre.

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