The Mayo Clinic - An Enduring Organizational Culture

Executive Summary

Mayo Clinic is considered one of the best and oldest hospitals in the United States of America. The medical practice was established in 1899, and it has grown tremendously since then. With a headquarters in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic runs on a business model that sees patients pay for services. Hospitals like Mayo help improve health care services worldwide by establishing longevity and value-based care with cutting-edge cures and technologies (Mayo Clinic, 2019). The organization is also known for its patient satisfaction rate, which exceeds 90%. Employees at Mayo Clinic can work in over 200 countries, with over 60% taking part in international missions.

The company has over 3,000 staff doctors employed full-time, which is more than the number of full-time faculty employed by the University of Minnesota. The quality of health services offered at Mayo Clinic extends across different medical fields and specialties. Through its values, the organization has created a strong culture of excellence and patient care delivery.

The history of Mayo Clinic dates back to the late 19th century with its establishment in Rochester, Minnesota. Drs founded the clinic. William Worrall Mayo, Charles Horace Mayo and William James Mayo (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Their vision was to offer excellence in health care services with a primary focus on acute illnesses affecting the common population at that time (Mayo Clinic, 2019). The practice incorporated state-of-the-art medical practices like surgery and hospital care. They also encouraged their employees to carry out medical research and inventions while they were offering patient care services.

There is some debate about whether there should be a change in organizational culture and philosophy within Mayo Clinic. Despite all benefits brought about by the current organizational practices, some experts and leaders in the healthcare industry have proposed a change in organizational structure and ways of doing things at Mayo Clinic. This document will look at possible strategies that could help Mayo Clinic in decision-making and change management to help it attract more patients. 

The Mayo Clinic - An Enduring Organizational Culture

Background Information on The Company

The Mayo Clinic began operations in 1899, and since it has grown in all areas of the hospital’s operation. The hospital is recognized as one of the best hospitals in America. It is listed among the top hospitals by U.S News & World Report Magazine and is one of only four hospitals that are included in this prestigious list. In addition, Mayo Clinic is also a part of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) (Berry & Seltman, 2014). The medical practice runs on a business model that sees patients pay for services rendered; while they pay a co-payment and deductible, they do not have to pay out-of-pocket for any expenses incurred during their stay at Mayo Clinic Hospital or Clinics.

The primary value of the firm is that “The needs of the patient come first at Mayo Clinic. The staff at the medical practice is committed to providing value-based care to patients, and they demonstrate it by working towards curing diseases and illnesses (Mayo Clinic, 2019). One of the strategies they use to achieve this is focusing on prevention rather than treatment of medical conditions. The organization has set up a technology innovation program that helps researchers develop new methods of diagnosing and treating diseases. The research program has been very successful in helping patients improve their health care and understand their diseases. The medical practice has also been able to improve care for patients through computerized systems (Berry & Seltman, 2014). Mayo Clinic offers virtual care and cares for many patients through this technology.

Some of the main challenges facing Mayo Clinic in future surgery include increasing waiting time for patients seeking care on an emergent basis; and also increasing costs that could be brought about by factors such as inflation, insurance companies, and workers’ compensation premiums, among others (Noseworthy, 2014). In addition, the hospital may also lose revenue and clients due to contracts being awarded to other hospitals. The hospital will also lose revenue if there is a reduction in customer service expectations, resulting in a reduction in quality standards at the practice.

The hospital is known to offer thousands of free services to patients and their families. These include programs that provide low-cost medications, medications for chronic illness, dental care and health screenings (Noseworthy, 2014). Despite all benefits brought about by the current organizational practices, some experts and leaders in the healthcare industry have proposed a change in organizational structure and ways of doing things at Mayo Clinic. This document will look at possible strategies that could help Mayo Clinic in decision-making and change management to help it attract more patients.

These strategies include the Schön Church Leadership Model, integration of the Seven Sources of Power Strategy, and the Understanding Management Model. In addition, the paper will also examine some of the barriers that could hamper or slow down the implementation of a new organizational culture at Mayo Clinic. These barriers include leadership resistance, lack of collaboration, and organizational readiness for change. All this information can be used for any organization that is considering change and those who are already undergoing a change process.

The present strategy of Mayo Clinic has been based on simple principles that have been used over the years to build a successful business model (Berry & Seltman, 2014). These principles include putting patients first, trust and respect for each other as well as physicians, keeping quality high and improving efficiency in hospital operations.

References

Berry, L. L., & Seltman, K. D. (2014). The Enduring Culture of Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 89(2), 144–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.10.025

Mayo Clinic. (2019). About Mayo Clinic - About Us - Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic

Noseworthy, J. H. (2014). What Is Ahead for Mayo Clinic? Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 89(4), 440–443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.02.008