jeffhansel's Profile

Located in: Rochester, MN

Current Status: (Offline)

Total Comments: 6

Jeff Hansel

Post-Bulletin health reporter

Latest Comments

• Mayo Clinic changes drinks reimbursement policy

  Confession time:  I submitted this notice for publication. Our view is that, in the age of the high cost of medical care and health reform, some readers might want to know that the alcohol dollar limit is $18 per person at Mayo Clinic.  Readers might decide this is an unimportant issue.  But we try to present information so you can decide for yourselves.  On the one hand, $18 seems like a lot of money for one person (on average) to consume at a staff event or a catered event.  Also, not all companies (for-profit or non-profit) offer alcohol on the company dime.  But, on the other hand, I covered the opening of Mayo’s new ear, nose and throat center in the Gonda Building the other night and that type of event probably draws current and potential future donors who surely expect to be “wined and dined,” so to speak.  We try to offer a broad range of news coverage so individual readers will find something that appeals to them.  Recently, for example, we have written full articles about a woman diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, Dr. Walter Franz and his hope that medical providers will consider military medicine, Dr. Robert Frantz (same sound, different spelling) and his climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro to help him understand his patients’ symptoms, health reform and a Mayo study focused on in-home monitoring of chronic health conditions.  On Pulse on Health (http://postbulletin.typepad.com/pulse_on_health/) I’ve written about the dangers of ice dams, Mayo hiring, whooping cough vaccination boosters for pregnant women and Mayo’s free “symptom checker” iTunes application.  But we also pay attention to constructive criticism and share I share any I receive with my editors (whether it’s positive or negative).  So please keep the suggestions coming!  Thank you.

  03/02/2010 1:25 PM
• Delicious treats for a heart-healthy sweetheart

  A reader called to ask the address of the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center cafe:
  565 1st St. S.W.

  02/08/2010 3:00 PM
• H1N1 vaccine appointments widening in Rochester

  smpdude — Olmsted Medical Center took appointment calls starting on December 8.  I see that your comment was from December 4.
  Check the recommendations, though, and if you’re an Olmsted Medical Center patient, call your health provider and OMC is still setting up appointments for H1N1 vaccinations. 

  12/08/2009 8:45 AM
• Mayo widens vaccine access

  Here’s the statement from Mayo Clinic:

  “For Immediate Release
  Mayo Announces H1N1 Vaccination Clinic
  ROCHESTER, Minn.—Mayo Clinic today announced it has received another limited shipment of H1N1 vaccine and will again take appointments for H1N1 vaccination. Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 7 a.m., established Mayo Clinic primary care patients can call 507-266-0011 to schedule an appointment. Based on Minnesota Department of Health priorities, eligible patients:

  *Must be an established Mayo Clinic primary care patient at the Mayo Family Clinic Kasson, Mayo Family Clinic Northeast, Mayo Family Clinic Northwest, or at the Family Medicine, Community Pediatrics, or Primary Care Internal Medicine practices in the Baldwin Building and meet the criteria below:

  -- Pregnant women
  -- Primary caretakers of children younger than 6 months old
  -- All children 6 months through 18 years old

  Note: Patients who are over 2 years and under 50 years old, not pregnant, and who do not have a chronic illness, will receive the nasal mist vaccine. All others will receive the injectable vaccine.”

  11/06/2009 11:28 AM
• Saturday's H1N1 clinic aimed at uninsured, underinsured kids

  Grassroots,
  This is the first clinic focused on uninsured children.  Previous clinics have been held at Mayo Clinic (with at-risk children part of the target group) and both Mayo and Olmsted Medical Center for pregnant women.  Both of those medical centers have focused on patients who currently have primary care providers. 

  11/03/2009 2:34 PM

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