The Mayo Clinic is a network of non-profit health services based in Rochester (Minnesota). Mayo is essentially a group medical practice that has 3,800 doctors, researchers and over 50,000 employees. There are two features that identify this group: integrated clinical practice (especially in addressing complex cases), and research. The Mayo Clinic has been top of the U.S. News magazine for 20 years in a row and is among the one hundred best companies to work for, according to Fortune magazine.
In 1892 a group of doctors, led by brothers Will and Charlie Mayo, created a group of clinical practices, that from the start, had the vision to grow whilst retaining the essence of a cooperative and integrated medical practice, which, together with an early willingness to do research and teach, has earned them the prestige that they deserve today. If we consider the history of the Mayo Clinic in context, we can see the value of having defended the concept of a top-level project of professional services as it has survived the aggressive, speculative market of private medicine in the U.S.
The spirit of the Clinic
Take note of the values that the Mayo brothers entrenched in the DNA of the organisation over one hundred years ago:
- Continuing pursuit of the ideal of service and not profit
- Continued primary and sincere concern for the care and welfare of each patient individually
- Continuing interest by every member of the staff in the professional progress of every other member
- Continuing effort towards excellence in everything that is done
- Continuing conduct of all affairs with absolute integrity
