Palomar Health becomes the newest member of Mayo Clinic Care Network

Mayo Clinic today announced Palomar Health, the largest public health care district in California, as the newest member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. This agreement formalizes a unique relationship between the two institutions that will allow physicians and specialists to collaborate and provide Palomar Health patients with access to Mayo Clinic's experts and medical resources.

"We are pleased to welcome Palomar Health to the network," says Wyatt Decker, M.D., Mayo Clinic vice president and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "As one of the region's first and largest health care provider, Palomar Health has a long history of dedication to its community. We know that by working together through the care network we can accelerate the innovative patient care of this enduring institution."

With today's announcement, Palomar Health becomes the first California member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. Mayo Clinic established the network in 2011 to share its knowledge and expertise with physicians and providers interested in working together to enhance the quality of health care for their patients.

"To fulfill our goal of being the leader of integrated health care in the region, it is important that we seek new ways to enhance our quality of patient care," says Michael Covert, President and CEO of Palomar Health. "Today, we made huge strides towards that goal through collaboration with Mayo Clinic. Now, Palomar Health is able to bring the knowledge and expertise of world-renowned care, right here to our community. We are proud to be the first health care system in California to be a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and believe this will help us improve our delivery. We have raised the bar for health care in San Diego."

Palomar Health now provides physician access to Mayo Clinic resources, including its online point-of-care information system and electronic consulting process that connects physicians with Mayo Clinic specialists on questions of diagnosis, therapy or care management. These tools, in addition to health care consulting related to clinical and business processes, will allow staff at Palomar Health to continue to provide the best care for its patients as well as support the mission to improve the quality of health in the community.

"We believe collaboration is key to the future of health care," says Russell Heigh, M.D., Southwest medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. "And by working together through the network, we are committed to providing patients with the medical expertise and resources that may allow them to stay close to home for their care and avoid unnecessary travel."

The Mayo Clinic Care Network represents non-ownership relationships. Members of the network remain independent but share a desire to improve the quality and delivery of health care. Mayo Clinic's goal through the network is to help people gain the benefits of Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise close to home, ensuring that patients need to travel for care only when necessary. The network also has member organizations in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Wisconsin as well as Puerto Rico and Mexico.

SOURCE Mayo Clinic