Both organizations have been planning for the day since 2005, when St. Vincent's purchased St. Luke's Hospital and Mayo Clinic's vision for a new hospital became a reality. Since that day, both organizations have made patient safety and uncompromised care the focus of transition day.

On April 12 around 8 a.m., ambulances will start to transport an expected 75 to100 Mayo Clinic patients being treated at St. Luke's Hospital to the new, $254 million, 214-bed hospital on the Mayo campus at 4500 San Pablo Road. The last Mayo Clinic patient is expected to be relocated to the new hospital by mid-afternoon that day.

"We've envisioned this day for a long time and we're thrilled that it has finally arrived," said Dr. George Bartley, CEO of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. "With the opening of our new hospital, we now have a fully integrated medical campus here in Florida with both inpatient and outpatient services in one location. This integrated environment fosters teamwork and stronger collaborations between physicians, researchers, educators and other clinical professionals. As a result, we are better able to meet the needs of our patients and to achieve the Mayo Clinic model of care that was established more than 100 years ago."

St. Vincent's HealthCare takes over the operations of St. Luke's Hospital when the last Mayo patient leaves the facility or at 6 p.m. on April 12, whichever comes first. St. Luke's will continue to serve as a community hospital as part of the St. Vincent's HealthCare system.

"As we extend the uniqueness of our healthcare ministry, we are committed to strengthening healthcare and increasing options for patients in the communities we serve," said Scott Whalen, Ph.D., CEO of St. Vincent's HealthCare. "St. Luke's patients may continue to see trusted doctors and nurses and can also visit St. Vincent's physicians. Together, we're stronger, and when doctors share ideas, opinions and resources, patients always win."

St. Luke's patients not transported to the Mayo Clinic hospital will be discharged from St. Luke's and readmitted under St. Vincent's, without leaving their room.  This will be done to transfer their medical records from the Mayo systems to St. Vincent's systems. Detailed plans for transferring medical record information have been carefully developed so that doctors and nurses have the treatment plans, current test results and the medical history necessary to continue to care for these patients. 

Individual treatment plans will not change, and patients will continue to receive care from their same doctors, and for the most part, their same nurses, who are familiar with their care.

On transition day, Emergency Medicine physicians with privileges at St. Luke's Hospital will continue to care for patients who come to St. Luke's Emergency Department. Mayo physicians will provide back-up that day as needed.

Mayo Clinic hospital's emergency department will begin to admit patients at 7:00 a.m. on April 12. The emergency department is open to anyone in the community needing emergency medical assistance.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers and 46,000 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla., and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. Collectively, the three locations treat more than half a million people each year. For news about Mayo Clinic, please visit www.mayoclinic.org/news/.

About St. Vincent's Healthcare
Rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, St. Vincent's HealthCare is committed to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Its Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually centered, holistic care, which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. St. Vincent's HealthCare includes St. Vincent's Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Catherine Labouré Manor, First Coast Primary Care, Consolidated Laboratories, St. Vincent's HealthCare Foundation, Advanced Patient Transportation, Seton Pharmacies, Consolidated Pharmacies, and other outpatient healthcare services. St. Vincent's Medical Center was founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1916 to provide health services to the sick and the poor of North Florida. St. Vincent's Medical Center has received HealthGrades' Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM  four years in a row (2005-2008).  St. Vincent's HealthCare is a member of Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit healthcare system. for news about St. Vincent's HealthCare, please visit www.jaxhealth.com

Patients Take To The Road As Mayo Opens Its  Hospital (The Florida Times-Union, April 11, 2008)