The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 27

Inside Story of Famed Mayo Clinic Is Told (EDITOR'S NOTE: In all raedl-cases, and often come as patients cine, few institutions are as famed as the Mayo Clinic, Its famq, however, has been largely confined to medical circles, for it hag shunned publicity. Hero is a rare inside look at a medical giant which has usually worked In silence while helping to shape modern practice). By ALTON BLAKESLEfl Associated Press Science Reporter ROCHESTER, Nov. 26 --The famed Mayp Clinic stands tall and gllstenlngly handsome in themselves. One of its greatest fames in ai a diagnostic center; here any patient will be seen or a number of famous specialists in different fields If his case requires It.

It is the birthplace, too, of dozens of new techniques In surgery and medical care; It also draws vitality from being a center of education and research. Research included the development of cortisone, for dramatic effects on arthritis and other diseases, by Nobel prize winners thin middle of a city that medicine Dr. Edward C. Kendall and Philip built on the rolling plains of llinne-l 3 Hench And It casts many influential shadows Nowhere else are there so many doctors (some 900) in proportion to population There are to many that In some neighborhoods, children of doc'tors grotv up calling every man "doctor," including thi; To the clinic come 150,000 patients a year--about 500 daily-Reeking checkups, diagnosis, medical or surgical treatment for ailing bodies. Notable Impact For nearly half a century, the man pa ticnt.

Unit Ita Critics The clinic has never been without critics. Past critics objected to the practice, pioneered here, of putting physicians on salary. Others accused the clinic of indirect advertising. Modern critics, apparently In number, argue that equal care may he obtained by the patient in his own home area, at least in big cities. Some object to certain features of the clinic as "mechanized" medicine.

Cilnlc spokesmen reply that its method of systematic handling of patients frees physicians' time for more complete devotion to the hu- cllnlc has had notable Impact upon American medicine. It pioneered firoup practice; Its staff contributed many research discoveries nd new techniques. Its archives hold medical records of two million men, women and children-patients since 1907--a treasure trove of Informative i a How--end why--has a medical center come to BO dominate what might otherwise be a farming and light industry city of perhaps 10,000 souls? The Mayo Clinic is obviously a Basically, the Mayo Clinic is a group of 330 staff physicians and surgeons examine and patients, set salaries, hire staff, and govern themselves through an Jl-man board, of which only two members are laymen officials of the clini-. Working with them are 575 Mayo Fpundation Fellows--physicians and scientists doing graduate work--and 2,000 nonmedlcal personnel including 100 nurses, clerks, receptionists; librarians, sacrelar- Ics, interpreters (covering all languages), maintenance staff, dozens of different jobs. medical mecca, dispensing high grade medical care.

Sixty per cent DOCBH Own Hospitals of its patients each year are mak-S The Mayo CUnic does not own ing repeat visits. Some 80 per cent any hospitals. But four hospitals come from within a 500-mHu hospitallzation under direc- tly'rest from points over the globe, of Mayo staff members. Doctors elsewhere often -send a The clinic's business office--not tipnts for diagnosis of difficult doctors--sets the based on the actual josts and on ability to pay. Eighty per cent ol the gross In-, come goes to pay Net Income after all expenses Is turned over to a nonprofit organization, The Mayo which owns the clinic's physical assets, the Mayo n.

funds go to carry on education and research. A main portion of the money paid fellows--who spend three to four years in study and research-comes from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Re- icarch. This was set up In 1915 by the Mayo brothers with gifts ulti- imately totalling 2 1 million dollars, jit is part cf the graduate school of the University of Minnesota. Private Organization Since the "cllnlo Is a private organization, its annual Income Is not a matter of public record. One estimate from townspeople is that the average patient pays $100 (not including hotel, food and travel costs) making ihe clinic's income 15 million dollars annually.

Besides salary, staff members receive generous life insurance and retirement benefits and may receive The staff physician's Income IB termed comparable to that of most first-rate' men in private- practice. Once becoming a member of the medical staff, few physicians leave the clinic. Today there are a number of private clinics or group practices in which physicians have joined forces to give medical attention and care. Mayo Clinic was a pioneer in this. Yet no one can set any pre- clee dste at which It might be said the clinic, RS known now, began.

First Seed The first seed was sown by a doughty, hard-bitten physician, )r. William Worrall Mayo, who set up a smalltown practice In Rochester nearly a century ago. His sonu, Will and Charlie, neveV considered any other possibility than becoming doctors, and they joined their father in practice. Thft. two young Mayos demonstrated I surpassing skill at surgery, and thelj fame spread through the countryside and beyond.

Soon they were speaking to medical and surgical meetings, astonishing surgeons of the day by porting n.ot a handful but 100 or more hold abdominal operations or other types of surgery. The unbelievers came to Rochester to see for themselves, and went homo believing, Impressed. If there was advertising of the Mayos, it was by ol patients and others. Prominent patients attracted newspaper atten tion. There is no evidence- Mayos ever tried to "plant" news stories or to advertise.

Indeed they rather leaned backwards to avoid it, so much so that today th Mayo Clinic does not engage IL public relations programs--accepted aa ethical and normal at numerous medical centers--to preaenl ment of bronchoscopy and elec- trocardlography, iodine treatment or goiter. The clinic grew steadily, expnnd- ng Into research and education, to the public even the reports ol Mayo research delivered at medical and scientific meetings. Another Partner As their.father retired from active practice, the brothers Mayc took in firat one then another physician as partners. By 1905, four of them were seeing 10,000 patients a year, the Mayos between them were operating on nearly 4,000 a year. About the turn of the century Dr.

Will--more the executive leader than his brother--insisted that by contract, the medical partnership of the other members in the practice meant only a stipulated share In the Income, not In ownership of the practice. Surgery was initially the basis of the clinic's fame. When Dr. Charlie developed a technique for removal of the thyroid gland--goiter was.a common complaint of the of these operations were performed in a single year In Rochester. Medical Care From emphasis on surgery, the clinic developed into supplying medical care as well.

This came artly through addition to the staff of such men as Dr. Henry K. Iplnmmer, who ploneored develop- ENGINEERS PROMOTED AT MONSANTO PLANT Four mjrlnreri In tho onflnrerlnp department at Monsanto Chemical Co. in Tens City promotions became effct4vo thli month rr, Irft In rljrht. Hay Hopkins, Albert Krlsher, A.

Dnwdy luid C. P. Hodgson. Dowdy from siolnUjif engineer io engineer In the construction section. Hodpwn and Krisher promoted to engineer In the Irmpwtlon and rnrroslon croup.

Hopkins was promoted from assistant estimator to estimator. at Palace Furniture Co. SPECIAL COMBINATION OFFER POUBLI A 10 water hoi TWIN TUBS. Made of viniied with htody drfcin. Sturdily built ou; of hetvy-giuge metil.

Equipped with eiiy-rolling outers. On tbo be used for canniog purposes, wishing ins, bottles, etc BANK MACHINI-CUT OlAM HIGHEST PRICSD WASHERS FMINM? HACt VRAM' 2409 Marlctt Phpiw M60F outgrowing each facility of buildings over the years. AH but perhaps a dozen or Rochester physicians are now connected with tho clinic. By no means The Calveston News, Sunday, November 27, 1955--PAG! 27 are all Rochester citizens clinic patients. Indeed few Rochester physicians are operating a small and successful group practice of their own a few blocks away, and this development a a genuinely welcomed by the staff of the Mayo Clinic.

TELEVISION MEDICINE Television Is being uied In British mental hospitals In the treatment of violent maniacs, and doctors say "many patients are being restored to sanity." man, a "hopeless case" for nearly 30 years, Is said to be prac- itically normal now. the handy femily-Size Here it is! The same crystal-clear and sparkling 7-Up you've enjoyed in the 7-ounce bottle, is now available in a big, new Family-Size. One 28-ounce bottle serves four or more. Perfect for family fun and parties. SERVKlpllll OR WE! For a real thirst quencher! For a cool, clean taste! For a quick refreshing lift! Nothing does jf like Seven-Up!.