Extra morning clinics to service patients affected by recent storms
Published 8:00 pm Friday, March 1, 2019
February has been a month filled with long stretches of cold temperatures, several winter storms, blizzards and record breaking snowfall numbers. It’s safe to say Mother Nature has made an impact on everyone, including local patients.
“Despite Mayo Clinic Health System staff going above and beyond to ensure patients and communities had access to care, many appointments were canceled, either by patients or by us, due to the hazardous conditions,” said Deepi Goyal, M.D., regional chairman of clinical practice for the southeast Minnesota region of Mayo Clinic Health System, in a news release. “We are working hard to reschedule those appointments in a timely manner.”
To accommodate more patients, Mayo Clinic Health System announced plans to temporarily hold Saturday clinics in Albert Lea and Austin beginning Saturday. These clinics will operate from 8 a.m to noon on each Saturday through March 23.
“Those who missed appointments during the winter storms will be contacted directly to see if these extended hours will work for them to come in and be seen,” Goyal said. “Our staff is working diligently to make this happen. They are enthusiastic about the chance to offer care to these patients as quickly as possible.”
Joining the primary care teams working those Saturdays will be nurses, registration staff, and radiology and laboratory services to ensure comprehensive care for patients.
In addition to the four Saturday clinics in March, patients may seek care during the regular weekend hours for the same-day clinics that operate at each location.
“We routinely offer many options for patients who need to be seen quickly,” Goyal said. “Patients may use our same-day clinics or Express Care locations for same-day access. In addition, our Express Care Online service offers convenient treatment for a variety of conditions with a one-hour turnaround between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.”
Goyal said if you were affected by this month’s storms and haven’t been contacted yet, feel free to contact your clinic for details about rescheduling your appointment.
