The Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minn., and the Altru Health System of North Dakota have announced a new alliance.
"Altru physicians have long worked with our colleagues at Mayo Clinic, and this agreement is the natural next step in this relationship," said Casey Ryan, MD, the health system's president. "Altru and Mayo share the commitment that healthcare should be provided close to home whenever possible. This affiliation means that Altru's patients will have access to the highest level of clinical expertise."
Altru is a community-owned, integrated system with an acute care hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, more than a dozen clinics in Grand Forks and the region, a large home care network and a congregate living facility. It employs nearly 200 physicians and 3,800 staff.
"While others quickly consolidate to address healthcare reform and an uncertain reimbursement environment, at Mayo we are focused on further developing our integrated model of practice, education and research, as well as a range of external affiliations and relationships, to give more people seamless access to the knowledge and expertise of Mayo Clinic," said John Noseworthy, MD, the clinic's president and CEO.
Through the partnership, Altru physicians have access to the Mayo Clinic's evidence-based disease management protocols, clinical care guidelines, treatment recommendations and reference materials for complex medical conditions.
The two have collaborated in the past on pediatric and cancer services, among other services. Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologists travel to Grand Forks to provide care for Altru's patients, saving families the expense and disruption of frequent travel to Rochester. In addition, the Altru Cancer Center has worked with the Mayo Clinic as part of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group to provide patients with access to clinical trials that test emerging cancer treatment options.