Mayo CEO summoned to White House for Coronavirus Task Force meeting
Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia flew to Washington, D.C. this week to discuss the nation’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
[Read our coverage of the first locally reported case here.]
The meeting was convened by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, which is being led by Vice President Mike Pence. The meeting, according to Mayo, also included Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other hospital sector leaders.
The focus of the White House summit was to “ensure seamless collaboration between the federal government and health care providers,” Mayo spokesperson Duska Anastasijevic said Thursday via email.
“At the meeting, Dr. Farrugia emphasized Mayo Clinic's preparedness and expertise in responding to COVID-19 and expressed the organization's support for local, state and federal officials who are leading the nation's response to the pandemic,” said Anastasijevic.
In a written statement, Farrugia said he was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with peers, share best practices, and highlight Mayo’s “commitment to ensuring patients have access to testing and treatment for COVID-19.”
“Given the potential impact of the virus on communities small and large, we must come together seamlessly to deploy our resources,” said Farrugia. “Today's discussion was a step in the right direction, and we look forward to continued collaboration.”
The meeting, which took place Wednesday, was held as Mayo began implementing new measures of its own to combat what the World Health Organization is now calling a pandemic.
That same day the Clinic announced it was temporarily restricting all non-essential business travel, effective immediately.
It also set up a drive-thru tent in northwest Rochester where it has begun testing patients for the virus. (It is important to note: patients are required to have a phone screening first to determine if testing is appropriate.)
Olmsted County reported its first presumptive case of the virus this week. The patient, who is in their mid 50s, is said to be at home recovering with only mild symptoms. The individual is believed to have contracted the virus while traveling to an area with known activity. Officials are now reaching out to individuals who may have come into contact with the patient.
The news never takes a day off, so we won’t either. If you’ve appreciated our reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic, please consider becoming a member. For $8/month, you are providing us the support we need to continue carrying out our mission of producing quality, accessible journalism.
