A tribal health consortium serving 26 Southeast Alaska communities has joined the Mayo Clinic Care Network, giving local providers access to specialists and clinical resources.
The nonprofit Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, or SEARHC, is the network’s first tribal health organization. It remains independently operated and consultations carry no additional cost to patients, according to a news release. SEARHC clinicians remain responsible for patient treatment and can seek additional input from Mayo Clinic specialists when needed.
Through the network, SEARHC providers can use AskMayoExpert, a clinical reference tool, and eConsults for second opinions on patient cases. Scheduled video conferences, called eBoards, will allow teams to review complex cases with Mayo Clinic experts and other network physicians.
SEARHC staff will also have access to Mayo Clinic consulting services, patient education materials and continuing medical education. Mayo Clinic Care Network includes more than 50 member organizations worldwide, representing 80 hospitals and nearly 20,000 physicians.
“For patients across Southeast Alaska, accessing specialized expertise can sometimes require significant travel and time away from home,” SEARHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Cate Buley said in the Nov. 9 announcement. “Joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network gives our providers another way to bring leading medical knowledge into the care we provide here at home.”
