A HEALTH FACTORY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 7, 8 July 1922, Page 15

A HEALTH FACTORY

THE MAYO CLINIC

!AN ENORMOUS MACHINE.

'America, is a land of contrasts (cays the New. York correspondent of Melbourne Age). . As an American put it to me, "We have the worst and also the best." I think, for example, it may be said that America has the best and the worst physicians in the world.

To illustrate what I mean by the best physicians, let me take you on atrip to Rochester, Minnesota—a town about 300 miles north-west of Chicago—where is located the Mayo clinio. This clinic is probably the best organised and most efficient health factory in the world. It is an enormous machine, which handles 60,000 patients a year. The little town of Rochester lives by and for the Mayo clinic. There are seven or eight hospitals, with a total of 1500 beds—all part of the institution. . Before one can go to a hospital, or get a word of advice, he must go through the clinic. This may take a couple of days, or longer, but they .are going to know all about the case before an opmioti is ventured. Suppose you are a man with a pain in your head or back or stomaoh, and you come to Rochester. You go first to a big brick' building of several stories, all devoted to one thing—finding out what is the trouble. You fill out ■ a card at. the registration office. You are then given a little card directing you. say^ to desk B. Then a courteous young lady stamps the name of an examining doctor on your card. Presently youi doctor calls your name. The men who ma>e the first examination are generally young doctors.. They are full of the latest ideas, and are picked from thousands of applicants and given fellowships of three years in Rochester. They do not pass. finally on your. case; that is left to the heads. After long questioning, your case unfolds. The examining doctor calls in one of the older doctors and shows him the records. They order a series of spc'.al examinations. You may be given a test-meal to test for acid, and an X-ray and a blood count and a urine, test. Your teeth and tonsils will be examined. For example, in the X-ray dental room they have half a dozen examiners, each with his private room. They take ten pictures, showing every tooth in your mouth. If there is any unwholesome condition, be sure they will find) it. All the facts about you are thus gathered;

after whioh you axe advised as to what to do.

One important thing muat be noted. N» doctor makes any money out of you. They are all, on regular salaries; and whether you are poor or a millionaire makes no difference to them; They are there to gain raputation for high ability. They have tho best possible equipment..

This health factory, ths Mayo clinic, seems Co ba efficient. There is no waste motion, and yet plenty of time for everybody. You need not expect that any amount of money will go* yeu in or get you through quicker than others. The only ones who may look,for special favours are mothers whose babies are getting restles3. AU human beings are equal before them.

The only place where distinction, are made is when you come to pay your bill. If you are wealthy, ypu pay high. If you are an ordinary person, you pay what it costs, based-on careful statistics; .if you are poor, you pay below cost. There aro 125 physicians attached to the institution, and 160 men who have come for three years. There arc 500 nurses, clerks, and stenographers. The average cost of. examining patients, in the year 1920, was 35.05 dollars (about £7V "'

Wher the business manager of the world-famous clinic was asked about.the needs for starting similar clinics in other States or nations, he said, "Of course, the first thin.a; is to get the righ* man to head' the groups; a man who will not stand still, who has the ri»a-l tire of his profession, in him—then you can start a <tre;it institution. Your igreatest trouble Avill be, tho same _as the trouble" that afflicts State medicine and in all medieina in which tl: a doctor is sure of his job, "and is removed from competition. State medicine tends toward mediocrity. You must give such an enterprise first-class equipment, ohanco for research so that you will be adding medical knowledge through your-institu-, tion. In this way you. will get the nsspec/t of the medical profession and the pick of the young men will want to work for you. ,

"Such an institution could be made •elfsupporting; but let me say that the beet medical men and surgeons are more interested in fame than in money. • They expect salaries, but if they have these with security then they are interested in, achievement. This is the kind' of men you. want. But let me emphasise the . fact that you need a man with fire, and ability at the head, a man who wilt furnish the incentive to keep others pushing on, who will not let me. get intogood jobs and drift, but will keep alivo the. spirit of progress and be filled with desire to make real contributions ,-to science." •