February 27, 2017 -- ROCHESTER, Minn. — With more than 1.3 million patients seeking Mayo Clinic’s expertise yearly, the institution continues its work to provide the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education and research.

Mayo Clinic reported a strong financial position in 2016, with contributions of $466 million to its pension plan for staff and more than $600 million in capital projects.

“The outstanding work of Mayo Clinic employees is the engine that drives our mission to our patients, advances important research and educational initiatives, and positions our institution as a key voice for the future of health care,” says John Noseworthy, M.D., president and CEO, Mayo Clinic. “Our strong financial performance enables Mayo to hire and retain the best talent, and invest in technology, facilities and our staff as we strive to deliver the best outcomes and service to our patients.”

In 2016, U.S. News & World Report named Mayo Clinic the best hospital in the nation, including No. 1 rankings in more specialties than any other hospital in the country; all eight Honor Roll specialties; and in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and the Phoenix and Jacksonville, Florida, metro areas. For more than 20 years, Mayo Clinic has led the way in U.S. News & World Report rankings, with more No. 1-ranked specialties than any other hospital in the nation.

In addition to its destination centers and integrated community care model, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mayo continues to share knowledge and provide virtual consultations to providers through an international network of member practices, Mayo Clinic Care Network. With 10 new members in 2016, the network now has 45 members in the continental U.S., Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. These independent organizations represent more than 120 hospitals. Through them, more than 12 million patients and their care teams have access to Mayo Clinic knowledge, clinical protocols and consultations through Mayo’s connected care platform.

The Center for Connected Care continues to create and sustain digital connections with patients. Nearly 1 million people have Patient Online Services accounts. Nearly 75 percent of patients who have had an appointment at Mayo have accessed their online account within two weeks of that appointment. More than 1.1 million patient-initiated secure messages were sent in 2016. Nearly 10,000 patients were seen from appointments requested through the Mayo Clinic App. More than 20,000 discrete telemedicine consultations occurred across the institution, including eConsults, eVisits, eReviews and emergency or scheduled video telemedicine visits.

Transforming the medical practice
Total research and education funding in 2016 was more than $1 billion ─ $523 million in Mayo Clinic funding and $482 million from external sources.

Medical innovation advancements include:

Near-total face transplant
In Minnesota, Mayo Clinic completed a near-total face transplant on a Wyoming man. The extensive, life-changing surgery performed by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, physicians and other health professionals in summer 2016 will improve the patient’s ability to chew, swallow, speak, breathe and smell. The recipient, whose face was devastated by a gunshot wound at 21, is doing well.

Precision Medicine Initiative All of Us Research Program biobank
To serve as the national Precision Medicine Initiative All of Us Program biobank, Mayo received $142 million in National Institutes of Health funding over five years. The biobank, on the Minnesota and Florida campuses, will store and curate more than 35 million biospecimens from 1 million or more U.S. participants. The Precision Medicine Initiative aims to understand individual differences that contribute to health and disease.

Senescent cells research
Research found that senescent cells – cells that no longer divide and accumulate with age – negatively impact health and shorten life span by as much as 35 percent in normal mice. The results demonstrate that clearing senescent cells delays tumor formation, preserves tissue and organ function, and extends life span without observed adverse effects. If the science is translatable to humans, a drug may be able to eliminate senescent cells and have profound effects on health and life span, researchers say.

Alzheimer’s disease data
A treasure trove of data was made public from a study aimed at accelerating therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. The study details whole genome genotype and gene expression patterns on 2,655 individuals with and without dementia, and includes more than 842 million data points. Mayo Clinic invited other investigators to mine the molecular and clinical data sets.

Reinvesting in facilities, strategic initiatives
Mayo Clinic reported income from current activities of $475 million in 2016. These funds are committed to mission-advancing projects. Capital expenditures exceeded $600 million in 2016. These expenditures are part of a multiyear plan to continue to invest in an electronic health record and revenue cycle management integration project, and information technology infrastructure upgrades.

State-of-the art facilities upgrades include Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester operating room expansion and bed tower projects. Strategic expansion in clinical areas includes a $100 million investment in major construction projects on Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus to provide integrated services for complex cancer, as well as neurologic and neurosurgical care. Construction began in summer 2016. Also on the Florida campus, construction began on a positron emission tomography (PET) radiochemistry facility. It will house a radiochemistry lab and cyclotron – a particle accelerator used in radiopharmaceutical production. The facility will produce Mayo-developed Choline C-11 for certain PET scans that “light up” prostate cancer and provide therapy targets, allowing for more effective treatment.

At the Arizona campus, the new Proton Beam Therapy Program opened in March, delivering radiation therapy in a way that offers potential for fewer side effects and higher cure rates, often for patients whose cancers cannot be treated safely any other way.

Participating in community health needs and economic development
In 2016, Mayo Clinic contributed $6.7 million in cash and in-kind donations to local communities. Mayo provided $629.7 million in care to people in need. This total includes $83.3 million in charity care and $546.4 million in unpaid portions of Medicaid and other indigent care programs for people who are uninsured or underinsured.

“We remain dedicated in supporting local community vibrancy and economic development,” says Jeff Bolton, vice president, Administration, Mayo Clinic. “From environmental stewardship efforts, community wellness initiatives and outreach to reduce health disparities among our most vulnerable citizens, Mayo Clinic is committed to giving back to our communities.”

A nearly 2-million-square-foot life science research campus in downtown Rochester was announced in 2016. It will be the centerpiece of Discovery Square, 1 of 6 subdistricts in the Destination Medical Center (DMC) development district. Mayo will collaborate on the project with M.A. Mortenson Company, a Minneapolis-based and family-owned development and construction services firm. Discovery Square will serve as a point for physicians and scientists to come together with businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate advancements in medical innovation and technology for critical advances in patient care. Construction is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2017. Mayo Clinic continues its commitment to the DMC initiative, as evidenced by the $9.5 million invested in integrated operational support since the DMC plan was introduced.

Addressing a rapidly changing health care environment
Across the nation, health care providers are facing a challenging environment, says Kedrick Adkins Jr., chief financial officer, Mayo Clinic. Patients often are sicker and older. Reimbursement from government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, is often insufficient to cover the cost of care.

“We are confident that our keen expense management and continuous quality improvement activities will continue to improve patient care, advance medical research and educate medical professionals to meet changing patient needs,” Adkins says. “We strive for a carefully balanced approach that supports Mayo Clinic’s mission of offering hope and healing to the sickest