loading…
My name is Samantha Blythe, and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is a five-star medical facility in my book. Out of all the specialty clinics and hospitals that I’ve been to in my childhood and adult years, none of them match up to the quality of care that the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota gives to their patients.
I had been there for the hip dysplasia in my right hip in 2000, and Dr. Dan Berry, who is the best hip specialist who works with Dr. Trousdale, decided to do the hip replacement surgery. I cried happy tears when he looked at me, and said, “Can you stay longer?”
I was there again in March 2012, for severe hip dysplasia in my left hip along with a tear in one of my major hip muscles. I saw Dr. Trousdale for a consult during my visit, and he agreed that a hip replacement surgery would be the best option for me. When he left the exam room to go consult with Dr. Berry, I began to pray to have the hip surgery done while I was there because my hip replacement that was done in October 2000 had held up really well, and I was happy with how it turned out. I knew that a hip replacement surgery would be the best choice for me. Waiting any longer to do the hip replacement surgery in the condition that I was in would be torture.
I cried tears of happiness when Dr. Berry came into the room and said that we could do the surgery on Monday. I actually cried later that night in the hotel room because I was so happy that I wasn’t going to be in pain anymore. I was admitted to Rochester Methodist on Monday, March 12, on the day of the surgery, and discharged four days later.
When I had the hip replacement in October 2000, I stayed at Rochester Methodist for a week, and then moved to the rehabilitation unit at Saint Marys for two weeks before I was allowed to go back home. I loved the care that I got at Rochester Methodist both the first time and this last time that I was there.
I had a great view outside of my window, and the room had been decorated to look more “homey” and “warm” rather than just tacky, sterile white walls, as most of the hospital patient rooms I had previously been in throughout my life.
It’s now six months post-surgery. I’m doing great, and I’m happy that I’m pain free and don’t have to worry about my hips deteriorating anymore. I’m back into my activities that I can enjoy doing again. I would heartily recommend going to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for anyone that has a complex medical problem that their primary care doctor has a hard time diagnosing.
I remember an MRI technician at Mayo Clinic once telling me, “When the Mayo brothers first started this clinic, their philosophy was to provide the best possible care to the patients.” Kudos to Drs. William and Charles Mayo for starting the best clinic in the whole world and changing the lives of the patients who go there.
h hop succeful resultes to all operation
oh my God I need a surgery and not decided yet as I still can tolerate the pain will definitely consider mayo clinic
You should definitely consider Mayo Clinic. Especially the one in Rochester, Minnesota. It’s got so many interesting buildings, and the way they were designed is just so beautiful. Everyone working there at the Mayo Clinic is so very pleasant, and helpful, and would be willing to go out of their way to show you where something is at. Even the people who live in Rochester are the same way too. So very helpful to anyone needing directions to somewhere.
I too am a patient of Dr. Trousdale. He is very good at what he does! I’m in total agreement about the wonderful care that the Mayo Clinic offers.
Dr. Trousdale is so wonderful. I only got to meet him twice. The time I was there in March, and at another time I was there for my other hip when I was having pain before the hip replacement surgery in that one. I’m so happy that he works with such a great team of specialists including Dr. Berry.
I was really happy with the way he focused his attention on me, and not on my mom as some doctors I’ve met in the past have. He asked me questions about my pain level while he was examining my left hip, and could clearly see that something was wrong when he noticed that my right hip was moving a lot normal than my left hip. He talked to me like I was a person rather than talking more to my mom about me as some doctors I’ve met over the years have.
My primary care doctor is just like the doctors at the Mayo Clinic. He talks to me like a regular person even when my mom, or caregiver is in the exam room with me. He is also very kind, and he always shakes my hand when he first walks into the room. Just like Dr. Trousdale did, and even Dr. Berry when we saw him also.
Praying for a steady recovery after the hip replacement.
I had an unfortunate experience with Dr. Berry. I had a knee replacement with Dr. Lewallen and there was no problems or issues. I went back for a hip replacement with Dr. Lewallen and the environment became very negative. Out of desperation to be out of pain and to get my life back, I had the surgery, believing that everything would work out, as long as I kept quiet. I was desperate for medical care. I finally could not take it anymore, and something was off with my recovery. I called the Office of Patient Affairs and asked for a new doctor and gave my reasons for requesting the change. After a month, they put me with an orthopedist that worked on knees and shoulders. I was having joint and back pain and I was not walking right. I begged the office of patient affairs to put me with the correct specialist and they then, put me with Dr. Berry. He was not pleased, but I needed help and I naively believed that doctors at Mayo Clinic believed in the oath they took as doctors. Dr. Berry went through the motions, but basically did nothing to help. He even wrote in my records that I had a problem getting a long with Dr. Lewallen. The goal was not to have me stay in the Mayo system for orthopedic care. I received a couple of letters basically saying there was nothing they could do, but if my doctor referred me back, then they would meet on it and decide if I would be seen again. During the summer, my discomfort was getting worse. I could not walk well and I had a lot of pain on the side of my hips, my lower joints hurt and I had lower back pain. I went to the #1 hospital in the country for orthopedics and within a few minutes, they saw that my legs were uneven. At this late time, it is very hard to correct it, but I have been in physical therapy since Sept. and I am gradually increasing the lift in my shoe. I still have limitations in my life, but not because of arthritis in my hip joint but because of the care I received in the Orthopedic Surgery Department and under Dr. Berry’s watch.
I’m sorry you feel your experience at Mayo Clinic was unsatisfactory. We have an Office of Patient Affairs, and if you wish, you can call and talk to them about your concerns.
Minnesota: 507-284-4988
Florida: 904-953-2019
Arizona: 480-342-2651
Polly, I talked with the Office of Patient Affairs many times. I want to ask you Polly, what are the qualifications for someone to work in this department?
Polly, it is not called “unsatisfactory”, it is called “substandard” care.
After this posting, I will leave room for those that want to praise Dr. Berry. If you plan on having surgery in this department, find out who is assisting and their educational background. You need to remember that most doctors at Mayo treat patients with a caring and dignified manner, but you might come across one that will humiliate and try to degrade you as a human being. There is no one at Mayo who will help you. Also remember, if your a woman, that out of 19 doctors, only men do hips and only one woman does knees in Rochester. I had the misfortune of being part of the dynamic between my doctor and a woman resident (she assisted in my surgery)who graduated from a one star rated school. It felt at times that my place as a patient was to be a tool for her hazing. When I did finally complain to the Office of Patient Affairs, she denied anything happened and I cannot blame her, because if she said anything happened, her career would most likely be over. She is now an employee of Mayo Clinic and I have two uneven legs. Though I need to say, she shattered the myth that a 100 pound, 5 feet woman cannot do hip replacements. The concern is why women in at least the top 100 medical schools do not want to do their orthopedic surgery residency at Mayo? She was the only woman resident that I saw in the department. Always know who is going to be part of your surgery. Also remember, if you tell on one of the men, you will not be well received by the other boys. After placing a complaint, I was put with the only woman that did knees, because the men did not want me as a patient. The problem was that I just had a hip replacement and was having difficulty. I kept begging and they finally put me with Dr. Berry and we know how that worked out. The real concern is what is being modeled about women and their orthopedic care to the majority of male residents? Let’s be honest, there are better places to have orthopedic treatment. Take a long look at the journal articles coming out of that department. Half the human species is missing. Our concerns, questions, need for caregivers while healing and so many other questions are not being considered legitimate areas of investigation. I am happy for Samantha, because everyone deserves to be treated in the most respectful and caring way. I am happy for her outcome. I am going back to school and my goal is to be a pit bull for the patient. I wish all of you good health and that you find the right place for your health care. I will be very surprised if this is still up Monday morning.