Clinic leaders say the new venture's Web site will start up next spring and will increase the online tools available for people wanting to learn more about personal health. Mayo Foundation President Michael Wood says the Internet will play an increasing role in a person's health care.
Online visitors can learn about medical breakthroughs or read nutritional advice.
Patricia Simmons, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician and chair of the clinic's Internet steering committee, says the new site will be more interactive and more personalized. She says the goal is to fill the gap between consulting a medical encyclopedia and meeting personally with a doctor. For the new site to work most effectively, it will take some effort on the part of the user. For example, someone with concerns about heart disease could enter his own blood-pressure readings over a period of time and determine whether he might be at risk. The non-profit Mayo has considerable experience already in lending its name to commercial ventures.