Mayo Clinic

What did they diagnose?
fibromyalgia
What did they miss?
vasculitis
primary immune deficiency
connective tissue disease
rheumatoid arthritis
what did they recommend?
exercise, antidepressants and psychiatry.
what was dismissed?
VERY important, abnormal test results.
Perhaps pairing someone with chronic pain/​joint/​muscle conditions with a pandemic disease specialist was a very poor idea. I’ve heard wonderful things about Mayo in Rochester, but I wouldn’t break the bank (like I did) to spend a week or two here. If you’re from Ca, save yourself some time and head on to UCLA. or Stanford. or Scripps.
Don’t waste precious months/​years trying to get a diagnosis here.

i have an appotment at Mayo Clinic in AZ in December. first available… appt was made yesterday. The initial experience was not what I expected. I expected a comprehensive medical assessment of my medical conditions. So, I decided to spend this morning reading reviews. Unilocal is great for that. A few things I noticed are 1) most of the 5 star reviews are from Scottsdale residents. I live in Las Vegas, NV and just the cost of travel and expenses will be about $ 2,000. 2) The other 5 star reviews concetrate on the pretty surroundings, not the medical results. 3) The lower star complaints are regarding the most important things, lack of medical care, billing problems, and lack of coordination of care. I wish all of you the best of luck. I am still doing my research.

I have been struggling with eye problems for almost 50 years. Have been monitored for a Cornea Transplant for almost 10 years. I moved to PHX about 2 years ago and was fortunate to find the Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Shen.
Dr. Shen and her incredible team have exceeded every expectation imagined. When it’s time for my appointment, I go in, no long waits. Her attention to answering questions, explaining her concerns, and working with other specialists has been comforting. I am 2 months post op on the transplant, and could not be more pleased on the care I have received.
Thanks to Dr. Shen and her team.

It currently takes months to get an appointment with a doctor and then a couple more months to get scheduled for a test.

We were very pleased with Mayo, Scottsdale… that is until we went on Medicare. We even purchased a more expensive, supplemental plan to ensure that we would be able to stay with our doctors there. We thought all was well. In August, 2015, Arrowhead Mayo Clinic happily took our cards, made copies of them and nothing was ever mentioned that «we do not accept Medicare at this facility». What? Could that possibly have been mentioned to us as we continued to have appointments there? When the bills started arriving, I called and some snotty girl told me «you signed a paper in March of 2015 agreeing to this.» I replied «we weren’t retired in March of 2015. Would it have been too much for your office staff to remind us of that fact when they took our new cards?» Many other people on here have mentioned the billing department. Oh my goodness… it is a total nightmare! They bill and double bill and there never seems to be any coordination from one representative to another. I keep getting told «we’re working on it». Really? We have not been there in months and the bills keep getting higher. It turns out, every time you call, they keep discovering things that weren’t submitted. BTW… the paper we signed warned us in CAPITAL LETTERS that we are not allowed to go behind their backs and submit our claims to Medicare or our supplemental policy. I checked with both Medicare and United Health Care on that one and was told they absolutely cannot do that. Well, folks, they do. Maybe because they’re the infamous «Mayo Clinic», they don’t feel they have to abide by the laws that all the other reputable facilities do.
On a positive note, the doctors we had were wonderful. This is not of their doing and we know that. It’s funny… you get caught up in the thought process that because it’s «Mayo» they must be the best doctors in the world. I admit they are wonderful, but there are many other brilliant doctors out here who aren’t trapped in a system as frustrating as this one.

So. I’ve been waiting some time to write just the right review about these people and their service. Get out the popcorn, it’s gonna get fairly good. Hopefully our ordeal will at least make for entertainment, if not for a worthwhile life lesson.
So years ago my then wife and I travelled to North Africa on an impromptu vacation to go and get some sun and discover some exotic culture. Tunisia to be exact. Only days into things, she wakes up shivering at 5am in tremendous tremors and cold sweats.
The resort doctor calls it a «flu». No one has a flu like that. I don’t trust him and get us on the first plane out. We stop in Europe and the city hotel’s doctor (who it turns out is also originally from Tunisia) also says it’s «some type of flu». I decide to pack our stuff to the US «where they have real doctors».
We land in Phoenix and head to «world famous» Mayo clinic. At the time we were barely 30 years old, so Mayo had quite a hard time even allowing us to book an appointment. Never mind that at the time I was lucky enough to have one of the world’s best full coverage insurance plans available on the entire planet. The card from the plans gave them phone numbers to call to have, get this, a full bank guarantee on any procedure they deemed necessary. Any. So what do the Mayo people say? We cannot accept you.
My wife is in tremendous pain and these people will not see her. It didn’t matter if we had money or not. Back then I could pay any amount they wanted. But this so called first world facility will not see us. I even offer to prepay anything they want. No can do.
After being physically turned away, I call them on the phone and somehow speak with someone who thinks we are worthy of their consideration. Amazing. We get an appointment.
I drive my wife to the appointment on the day. We are subjected to more humiliations. Can you even pay? What can you pay? Etc etc.
The appointment takes place. We see one doctor. Then another who it turns out is the head of the department. A grey haired, older fellow clad in a white medical outfit. From behind his large luxurious desk, he starts to pontificate. Speaking to my wife he says: ««Ma’am, I don’t find anything wrong with you. Therefore, I don’t think anything IS wrong with you». We can’t believe his statements. That very morning I had had to bathe her and carry her so she could make it to the car and the appointment.
I ask to have another doctor. We get a young gal. Her first comment is «I don’t know what is wrong with you, but I’m going to try my very best to find out». Multiple batteries of tests later and many weeks of tremendous suffering later, the answer comes back. She calls us to say this:
«The results came back. You have a rare form of typhoid».
Typhoid.
The head of the department just days earlier had said he didn’t think anything was wrong with her. Nothing was wrong with her according to that ‘great professor’. Yeah.
The admissions office had refused to let her be seen when we first contacted them. They had refused to see her. She had typhoid and could not be seen.“0
These people believe we are there to serve their needs. It is not so. It’s the other way around. Time to put in place modern programs turning medical bank account emptying from a wild west zoo where the little person is milked with no limits and mistreated to a modern system where *they* help people and have to publicly post all their rates. Not the other way around.
If you too have experienced the tremendous arrogance and unconstrained money taking stance of medical people, consider talking about it with some friends.

I went to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale with severe muscular pain and peripheral Neuropathy. They told me there was nothing wrong with me.
They marginalized, minimized, and demeaned my «imaginary pain». A few months later I found an excellent research center in Oklahoma City. They diagnosed me with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome. While the dope at the Mayo Clinic marginalized me, I was sitting right in front of him and the Oxygen in my arteries was 52%. I have interstitial lung disease and CREST, spent 24 days in the hospital through 2014, am on oxygen 24/​7, and am fighting flares and vasculitis constantly. The pain is unbelievable.
If you have a muscular skeleton type problem, this is NOT a place to go. Their equipment is old, they run like clockwork, but they do not listen, they do not see, they are disrespectful, and they do not understand statistics wrt tests they run. They run them on time, but do not read them in conjunction with your history.
Now that I understand these diseases, I think any qualified, professional medical clinic would have seen my struggle.

Such a sad excuse for the amazing Mayo clinic in Rochester. My experience is much like the other reviews here. Yes, the cost is very high, but I accept that you do get what you pay for in life. I went into the clinic many times for chronic Migraine headaches. Finally, my doctor – the Chief of Headache – Dr. David Dodick — admitted me for infusions. Prior to this admission he tried many medications, Botox, and heavy drugs. This gave me no life. When I would come in for treatment the person who makes the schedule was short tempered, made numerous mistakes, and often I would wait 2 – 3 hours because of her inability to do scheduling. But, because the migraines were so bad I kept trying. Finally, after years of this Dr. Dodick admitted me to the hospital. I was there for 2 days. Dr. Dodick was 15 feet down the hall seeing patients, but never even stepped in the room to say hello. The migraines were intractable. A female Doctor came to see me to explain that I would be getting an experimental infusion for 3 days. I asked to see what was in this infusion because I have some medication allergies. No one was ever able to tell me what the infusion contained. I also never signed a consent which of course is against the law. The first day I began pouring sweat, my heart rate went up to 160 (80 is average), my face swelled and I was unable to breathe easily. After, another half day I got sicker. Still, no Dr. Dodick. So, finally after my face was all swollen, my vital signs were abnormal and by the way I still had the migraine I signed myself out of the hospital. Went immediately to another hospital where I was admitted. They treated all symptoms and after a few days I went home to recover.
If you only want nice magazines, a woman who plays the harp and piano beautifully Mayo is your place.
But, if you are actually sick, and need REAL medical care run from this place.

For profit only. Was referred to the Mayo Clinic for a vascular ear issue. Had to wait weeks for the appointment with the «specialist,» Dr. Barrs. I had to pay $ 650 to schedule the appointment. I saw Dr. Barrs’s intern for about 5 minutes. Then, Dr. Barrs for literally 2 minutes. I was charged $ 320 for those 2 minutes. All he did for that $ 320 was to tell me I needed an MRI and CT scan. Weeks later, after the scan he had his secretary call me with the results. When I asked what was the follow-​up, she said there was none. I received a bill from the Mayo Clinic for $ 12,000. No treatment, no suggestions, nothing. Dr. Barrs was not interested in treating the problem, only in generating income. Those same tests at various area facilities are only $ 400 and $ 300 respectively. This is (one of the reasons) why insurance rates are so high. Unfortunately for me, I’m a cash payor, the Mayo Clinic knew that, didn’t warn me of the costs ahead of time.

I have a friend who goes to the Mayo Clinic and after her positive reviews I called to schedule an appointment and verify that my insurance was accepted.
I made the appointment and gave them my insurance information.
I go to the appointment, give them my insurance information once again, and have a quick 10 minute visit with the doctor to establish me as a new patient. I was just trying to find a primary care physician in my area.
I go to leave and there is no co pay due at the time.
The next day I get a call saying that I owe over $ 600 for the visit since my insurance was out of network.
I have never had the experience of going to a medical care provider where they didn’t inform you of your financial obligation before getting care.
Worst customer service practice I’ve ever encountered.

I’ve been to numerous hospitals across Chicago and the Midwest and the care and environment at Mayo Clinic blows away every other hospital I’ve been to. Very short wait times, doctors who LISTEN (isn’t that amazing??), and very clean, aesthetically pleasing, comfortable lobbies and clinic rooms. Both the Scottsdale (Shea) and North Phoenix (Desert Ridge area) branches are very nice, I spend most my time at the Shea one.

If you have Medicare, don’t bother trying to get an appointment to see a doctor at Mayo Clinic. They no longer give appointments to those of us who have Medicare… even if we are former patients at Mayo. I have tried on two separate occasions to make appointments with my doctors at Mayo… only to be given the «runaround» about why that was not possible. Mayo should be ashamed of itself… this is no way to treat a certain segment of our population.

I’m from Los Angeles. I have been working with the doctors in my local medical practice for several years now to diagnose the issues I’ve been having. I even made visits to the USC Keck Medical Center. No one have been able to do more than what they called «elimination» testing. They knew what I didn’t have, but no clue what I did have. My neurologist recommended I go and spend a few days at the Mayo Clinic to be seen by specialist who would work together to come to a diagnosis.
Although it took 6 weeks to get the initial neurological consult scheduled, their schedulers worked diligently to schedule my other consults within the time that I had allotted to spend at the Clinic.
I have been in Scottsdale for 3 days now undergoing lab work, tests, and consults. So far the experience has been amazing. From the first check-​in, to the scheduling of additional tests requested by the next specialist seen, the schedulers keep your itinerary up to date and efficient trying to consolidate the number of trips and appointments to a minimum.
I come from a medical family, although not in medicine myself, and so have a unique insider perspective on many medical systems. The Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale is far and above many that I have personally experience, or that I have heard recounted from family or friends. And trust me I have witnessed horror stories at local hospitals and with local medical groups and specific doctors.
Having above average knowledge and experience, I spent a lot of time asking questions and discussing what has been eliminated and what we are looking at next. The tests requested and discussions are well above what the previous «specialists» have considered.
I am a total advocate for my care. I have a good idea of how things should go. I also illicit expectations so as to limit disappointment. Yeah it is hard and can be intimidating when you question a doctor, but if you don’t understand the why you will not do. I also make sure I have discussed the ALL of the options. Many doctors will only talk about options they like and agree with. You have to do your research and then discuss pros, cons and likelihood of success for your situation. Unfortunately, insurance companies and corporations have made it necessary to question everyone and everything. Gone are the days of «blind faith» in your healthcare providers. So stand up for yourself. No one else will.

Do I really have to do a lengthy review of this Mayo Clinic??? This place is totally awesome, very well laid out, very organized, very clean, easy to find one’s way around and they have the best doctors and practices in the country! Their gift shop is most interesting! You can find lots of gifts that are rare and the price is right! This facility is in a beautiful area of Scottsdale, almost makes you feel like you’re out in the beautiful oasis of Arizona! I wish that more insurance would cover services at the Mayo Clinic…

Excellent facility. I have a family member that went to Mayo to determine what has been causing them multiple injuries. We saw 7 doctors before our Mayo adventure and none of the docs were helpful in the long run. At Mayo, we started off in the Consultative Medicine area then visited Pain management, neurology, physical therapy and rheumatology. This amazing doctor in rheumatology solved this medical mystery. Amazing place and doctors.

They billed insurance incorrectly for my visit and refuse to resubmit the claim using the correct billing code. They keep invoicing me directly insisting I pay them directly despite Aetna telling me I am not responsible for paying the bill. I even played them a recording of Aetna telling me not to pay them, but they refuse to contact Aetna to try to resolve it… they’d rather me pay cash out of pocket. Avoid at all costs, horribly unhelpful staff that refuse to do their jobs and instead prefer to make the consumer pay for services that are within their insurance coverage.

Wow, what a great experience. The place is vast (come a little early) but it’s beautiful, flawlessly orgranized and has lovely service.
There’s an information desk complete with someone to walk you part of the way to your goal. On your floor, there’s a brisk check-​in line where you hand in your insurance info as needed, and they alert the office you’re visting to let them know you’re ready for them. There’s a large, really nice seating area and someone comes and gets you within a few minutes.
It’s clean and smells nice, and everyone is pleasant and professional. The doctors and nurses were both knowledgable and extremely pleasant — they exuded competence and had a lovely bedside manner. Even though my problem was minor and quick, they were thorough.
I actually felt at ease, and even with all this great service, I was still in and out of there in record time (never more than a few moments waiting at any point), and I wasn’t the first appointment of the day or anything. It’s amazing to go to a doctor’s office that runs punctually!
Over all, I felt a bit like I’d walked into Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous — it felt like VIP treatment and atmosphere.

An amazing Clinic to go to with top notch physicians.
this is NOT the hospital.
The Hospital is in phoenix. this is important information!

Okay, so they removed the $ 1800 charge. NOW, they sent me a bill that says that there are $ 3600 worth of insurance charges pending and that I owe them $ 60.00 personally.
—-I haven’t been to Mayo in MONTHS.
The billing department is SERIOUSLY messed up.
It’s really a shame.
Further Update: 3-​29-​2012. I keep getting bills of totally different amounts. When I pay the bills, I never seem to get credit for paying them. This is the billing twilight zone.

I’ve been to this Mayo Clinic location about a dozen times sorry to say, but the services and the professionalism of the staff is GREAT!
The beauty of the William Mayo philosophy is to bring the various medical areas in to consult and diagnose what is wrong with the patient. Keep in mind they do this all the while as being a nonprofit. WOW!
Though Dr Greg House from TV is fictitious, these folks are not. They are the best in their field and they take continuing education seriously. Take a look at their office walls and you will see years of various classes and CE to keep them up in their fields.
If you need to go to the hospital, this is the one I would want!
WOW!