The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

The Mayo Clinic Experience

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher/Owner

20 November 2002

I guess you might say I felt like Alice In Wonderland when I experienced Mayo Clinic this past Wednesday through Friday. And yes, I know it has to be my 39 and holding years that would make me delight in a good health care experience rather than a trip to Disney World.

But it was overwhelming to see how many people a clinic of that size could take and yet give them immediate attention, quick results, and individualized care.

I was lucky enough to bid on a hotel through Priceline that landed me in the Grand Kalher Hotel right across from the clinic for only $44 a night. I was seeing a hand specialist, Dr. Brault, about my increasing problems with my hands after carpel tunnel surgery.

Upon my arrival Wednesday, I received an xray of my hands and then met the doctor.

He said I was taking way too much aspirin and it would eat a hole in my stomach. He prescribed Celebrex which he said was the same only 8 times stronger and a lot safer.

By Friday I had taken a blood test, a bone scan, an EMG (nerve test), physical therapy where they taught me about contrast baths (soaking my hands in warm water alternating with a minute of cold for a 30-minute session), plus ways to protect my hands.

On my last consultation with Dr. Brault, he decided I needed to meet with a Rheumatoid specialist because of my blood test, and he wanted me to have an MRI to rule out a possible cyst and to find out what had been cut because I had lost feeling in my middle finger.

The MRI is very special. There are only three like it in the world, he said and it is primarily for brain research. The tech who will do the MRI on my hands can use it only on Tuesdays, but they will be able to tell exactly what has been injured or cut. He said it is 3.2 times stronger than any other MRI.

He finished by saying he would call me with the scheduling and he sent me to a Cast Technician who constructed a cast for my left thumb to help reduce swelling so I wouldn't move the joint. I was amazed how easily and soon he did it.

When doing the series of stories on the doctors who graduated from our area, one was Dr. Kenneth W. Schroeder a 1965 LaHarpe H.S. graduate who is now a consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dept. of Internal Medicine.

In my research on that story, I read where the Mayo Clinic was ranked as the number one clinic that found the most answers. That's why I decided to go there.

I decided to look Dr. Schroeder up and say hello, and found he was literally at the top. He was on the 19th floor with a beautiful view.

He took a few minutes to greet me, explained some of his speciality of Crohn's Disease and Colitis.

As patients were waiting for him, I shook his hand and thanked him for the opportunity to meet him.

I had met many other people with stories to tell of their problems. As I returned home, I thanked God for the many people who work at Mayo Clinic and the doctors we have who have chosen the health care profession.