MOREHEAD CITY — A health care facility on North Carolina’s coast is joining forces with one of the nation’s top ranked clinics.

Morehead City-based Carteret Health Care is now part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, it announced today.

It is believed to be the first facility in the state to join the network. The group is comprised of independent health care systems that are carefully vetted in order to have special access to Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise.

“We are excited to strengthen the clinical care our community patients receive by joining the Mayo Clinic Network,” said Dick Brvenik, president and CEO of Carteret Health Care, in a statement.

“Through this agreement, Carteret Health Care will gain access to the latest medical knowledge and expertise directly from Mayo Clinic, which ranked No. 1 in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report. This means our local physicians will have answers to complex medical questions right here while allowing patients to heal and stay close to home.”

The Mayo Clinic is an American nonprofit academic medical center based in Rochester, Minnesota.

Created in 2011, the Mayo Clinic Care Network has more than 40 member organizations across the U.S., and in Asia, Mexico and the Middle East.

As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, Carteret Health Care will have access to:

  • AskMayoExpert: This point-of-care tool will offer concise clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions, and includes medical protocols, treatment recommendations and medical references. The tool can be used wherever health care is provided.
  • eConsults: eConsults will enable Carteret Health Care physicians to contact Mayo Clinic specialists for second opinions on specific patient cases when they believe additional input will benefit their patients.
  • eBoards: The live video conferences will enable Carteret Health Care’s medical teams to review and discuss complex cases with a Mayo Clinic panel and other doctors in the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
  • Health Care Consulting: Carteret Health Care will be able to access Mayo’s extensive experience, knowledge and subspecialty expertise to attain clinical, operational and business goals.

“We are pleased to welcome Carteret Health Care to the Mayo Clinic Care Network,” said Ryan Uitti, M.D., medical director, Southeast Region, Mayo Clinic Care Network, in a statement. “Carteret Health Care’s commitment to its community is evident in its high-quality, compassionate and respectful care. We look forward to working closely together.”