Stormont Vail Celebrates Decade as Mayo Clinic Care Network Member

A decade of membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network was celebrated Wednesday, with the message clear: Stormont Vail Health’s connection to Mayo Clinic has been a game changer for patients and team members through the years.

The benefits of the alliance were touted during a panel discussion celebrating the 10-year anniversary, held over the noon hour. Mehmood Hashmi, M.D., Executive Medical Director, Cancer Services, shared the story of a patient who had a devastating health outlook, but had a will to live. Through a Stormont Vail consultation with Mayo Clinic, a plan of care was developed and the patient is still alive today, eight years later.

Dr. Hashmi noted that many patients with a cancer diagnosis have questions, so “having Mayo eConsults is very important.” He noted the consultations, which are free to the patient, can help validate a course of treatment or help provide options when there are gray areas. “It’s priceless,” he said. Through the eConsult process, much of the care is provided close to the patient’s home, without the need to travel. Kaitlin Ditch, M.D., Endocrinology Services, said at times, physicians may need more clarity in treatment guidelines, and with the Mayo consult process, that clarity may come from the very people who wrote the guidelines. She said it sometimes confirms the course of care, but other times has resulted in a change of practice for that patient and others who follow.

MollyPatt Eyestone, Communications Supervisor, Marketing, moderated the panel. Other panelists included Kevin Dishman, M.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Medical & Quality Officer,

Paula Sanders, Director, Magnet & Clinical Excellence, Laura Smith, Director, Experience, and Mark V. Larson, M.D., Medical Director, Mayo Clinic Platform.

Dr. Larson, and two other Mayo representatives, Susan Cooper, MSN, MHA, RN, Nurse Administrator, Mayo Clinic Platform, and Christine Johnson, MBA, Executive Director, Mayo Clinic Platform, also met throughout the day with several Stormont Vail groups. Meetings included nursing leaders and providers to discuss coming innovations in healthcare, the future of nursing, and tools that will help providers gain time with patients through the use of technology. They shared that the Mayo Clinic Platform, which the Mayo Clinic Care Network is part of, is vetting multiple technologies through the Mayo system so that information and guidance can then be provided to MCCN members as they seek new tools.

Stormont Vail was the 28th organization to join Mayo Clinic Care Network, and remains the only Kansas healthcare system in the network. Mayo Clinic Care Network now has more than 45 members in U.S., Asia, India, Mexico and the Middle East.