Senior Services

If you or someone you care about is living in a local nursing home, it’s comforting to know that compassionate and expert care is available.

Mayo Clinic Health System providers care for our patients living in local nursing homes. We have designated primary care physicians and advanced-practice providers that work closely to bring you the best care possible.

The nursing home resident, a resident's family member or nursing home staff can request medical care. Below is an outline of the care we provide.

Initial medical evaluation

Our advanced-practice providers will come for an initial visit within the first week of admission to a nursing home, and a physician will visit within the first month.

Ongoing medical care

In accordance with Medicaid/Medicare regulations, physicians or advanced-practice providers will alternate visits, seeing residents every 30 days for the first three months following admission, and every 60 days after that.

Advanced-practice providers also offer ongoing medical care at skilled nursing facilities each week and are in regular contact with the primary care physician. They provide a variety of services, such as caring for a specialized medical condition, monitoring an ongoing chronic condition and addressing acute illnesses that arise. These services may vary by location.

Examples of care you can receive from your advanced-practice provider includes:

• Advanced care planning
• Anticoagulation (warfarin) management
• Counseling
• Dementia and behavioral management
• Diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases
• Discharge planning
• End-of-life care
• Health histories
• Medicare and Medicaid recertification visits
• Medication prescriptions
• Physical examinations
• Preventive care
• Wound care

How to request a consultation beyond scheduled care

If a resident becomes ill or has a chronic illness that needs attention, first discuss the concerns with a nurse at the nursing home. The nurse will evaluate the medical concern and discuss the matter with an advanced-practice provider. If appropriate, the nurse will make an appointment with an advanced-practice provider.

Work with nursing home staff to schedule an appointment with a Mayo Clinic Health System provider who cares for residents at the nursing home.

After-hours medical care

After hours, or on weekends and holidays, nursing home staff will contact an on-call advanced-practice provider by telephone for management of sudden medical concerns. The on-call provider may see patients via video visits as appropriate. If necessary, staff will direct nursing home residents to the Emergency Department for medical care.

About advanced-practice providers

Advanced-practice providers refers to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. A nurse practitioner is a nurse with a master's or doctoral degree in nursing, as well as specialized advanced education and clinical training. A physician assistant is a health care provider with a master's degree in physician assistant studies and a specialized physician assistant certification.

Not all treatments, tests and services are available at all Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Check with your preferred location in advance.