Beyond the Budget Cuts: Why the Mayo Clinic Care Network is a Lifeline for Community Hospitals 

Community hospitals are at a crossroads. Shrinking margins, policy shifts like recent legislation, and mounting Medicaid constraints are stretching organizations thin. But amidst these pressures, one truth remains: the communities these hospitals serve still need to receive high-quality, local care. 

Read more about the ways your organization could leverage tools, resources, and digital solutions from the Mayo Clinic Care Network to improve your bottom line. 

Why hospitals can’t stand alone anymore 

Small hospitals are asked to do more with less. Less funding. Fewer staff. More complexity. Operational excellence and high-quality care are more than “nice-to-haves;” they’re sustainability strategies. 

The Mayo Clinic Care Network helps local hospitals: 

• Retain high-value patients who might otherwise seek care elsewhere 

• Access innovation and expertise without other costly investments 

• Strengthen workforce engagement and retention 

And the best part? These benefits are delivered in a way that respects your hospital’s identity and autonomy. 

Keeping patients close and hospitals strong    

Member organizations across the Mayo Clinic Care Network are seeing returns not just in retained patients, but in stronger clinical capabilities, better financial performance, and deeper community trust. Take Hancock Health, for instance, where a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Care Network meant a significant return on investment.   

Before joining, Hancock Health had trouble retaining patients after they referred them out for second opinions. But by utilizing eConsults and eBoards, Hancock Health retained 80 high-value oncology patients per year, generating $800,000 in revenue. Add brand visibility and direct referrals from Mayo Clinic, and Hancock saw a $1.1 million annual impact. 

“We wanted to find a way to keep patients here,” said Steven Long, CEO of Hancock Health. “Now, they see our name next to Mayo Clinic’s and they stay.” 

When patients see their local doctor collaborating with Mayo Clinic specialists, it reinforces trust in their care. That confidence fuels word-of-mouth referrals and draws new patients who previously may have gone elsewhere. Providers also feel empowered knowing they can access peer expertise while maintaining autonomy. 

Tools that maximize every dollar 

Through the Mayo Clinic Care Network, members have access to: 

• eConsults: Providers consult with a Mayo Clinic specialist and receive a fully documented, asynchronous second opinion at no extra cost to patients.   

• AskMayoExpert: For non-urgent cases, providers access Mayo Clinic’s standardized practices on hundreds of medical conditions to determine the need for tests or referrals.    

• Inpatient telephone consultations: Providers speak directly with a Mayo Clinic specialist over the phone to get on-demand guidance for hospitalized patients in need, or for urgent and semi-urgent intervention.   

• Health Care Consulting: Providers access Mayo Clinic’s practical experience and subject matter expertise through projects and information exchanges.  

With this collaboration, it’s possible to build out service-line expertise, boost revenue, and make a real impact on the health of your local community. In this video, Wellstar Health System physicians share just that—their success in launching a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) program with Care Network support. It’s a program that not only brings advanced heart care closer to home but also demonstrates the power of shared expertise.  

Innovation without the overhead 

Local hospitals need a direct, cost-effective way to improve their bottom line when every dollar counts. Mayo Clinic Platform offers a suite of qualified solutions that drive real financial results. From advanced reimbursement tools to AI-powered insights, members can quickly uncover missed revenue, reduce denials, and optimize reimbursement workflows. With the deployment capabilities of Mayo Clinic Platform, integration is seamless. 

Here are a few ways that solutions qualified by Mayo Clinic Platform can help:  

• Decrease uncompensated care: Utilize artificial intelligence to identify patients who may qualify for additional benefits with an end-to-end benefits navigation solution.   

• Improve coding accuracy: Create a full picture of patient care using a data analytics platform designed to close the clinical insights gaps.   

• Reduce financial burden: A non-disruptive, analytics-driven solution to recover more revenue and preserve patient dignity. 

These tools directly support financial resilience and help hospitals serve the populations most impacted by policy changes.   

Support that doesn’t disappear when budgets tighten 

Every hospital leader is asking tough questions right now. But maybe the most important one is this: can we afford not to use every advantage available to us?  

The Mayo Clinic Care Network delivers the tools, trust, and transformation that small hospitals need without sacrificing independence or identity. At a time when the stakes couldn’t be higher, the Mayo Clinic Care Network offers a path forward. 

Interested in learning more? Reach out to our team.