Heartland Health Joins Mayo Clinic Network

Mayo doesn't hold an ownership position in any of the individual affiliates, which will continue to operate independently. The financial terms of the Heartland Health affiliation were not released.

Most patient care will continue to be provided at the affiliate facilities, but MCCN members will have access to Mayo Clinic physicians, continuing medical education, and Mayo's disease management protocols. Clinical trials and clinical care guidelines may be added later.

As is typical of the other network affiliates, Heartland Health and Mayo Clinic already have a relationship. Heartland uses the Mayo Telestroke Network in its emergency department. It enables Mayo neurologists to remotely evaluate patients who have had acute strokes and make treatment recommendations to Heartland physicians.

As a consequence of the affiliation with Mayo, Heartland will forgo its longstanding relationship with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Mark Laney, MD, president and CEO of Heartland Health explained during a media conference that the Mayo relationship will include all of its employed physicians regardless of specialty. "We had a wonderful relationship with MD Anderson for three years. This is simply an opportunity to do something for all of our patients and all of our departments."