Find a doctor Programs and services Jobs Classes and events Patient/visitor information Online services About Medcenter One Health information Medcenter One Children Service

Walk-in clinic wait times

No appointment necessary. Wait times are updated every 15 minutes.
   Approximate wait time
0—30 minutes 30—60 minutes
60+ minutes Outside regular
business hours

Bismarck

Medcenter One Walk-in Clinic Downtown
Serving all ages
Location and hours »
Medcenter One Walk-in Clinic North
Serving all ages
Location and hours »
Medcenter One Pediatric Walk-in Clinic
Serving children
Location and hours »

Minot

Medcenter One Walk-in Clinic
Serving all ages
Location and hours »

Request an appointment

Online appointment requests are for non-emergency appointments only. If you believe you have an emergency, please call 911 or go to the
Medcenter One Emergency and Trauma Center.
Click here to request an appointment online »

Refill a prescription

Click here to request your refill online »
  Back to previous page ¦ Children's stories ¦ Search stories

Help for the heart

Bismarck family benefits from Medcenter One's
relationship with Mayo Clinic
Daxton Helten had heart surgery at Mayo Clinic when he was 3 days old
Daxton Helten had heart surgery at Mayo Clinic when he was 3 days old.		   Daxton Helten behaves like a typical 2-year-old boy, running around, chasing his older sisters, repeating things people say, giggling and playing with his cars and trucks.

But his birth was anything but ordinary.

Neonatal nurses immediately noted that Daxton’s oxygen level was low and contacted a Medcenter One pediatrician. Through Medcenter One’s relationship with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) was done and reviewed immediately by Dr. Ben Eidem, a Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologist.

“He had a condition that required surgery right away,” said
Dr. Rafael Ocejo, Medcenter One neonatologist/pediatrician.

Daxton had a hole in his heart between the bottom two chambers and was born without a valve from his heart to his lungs. He was flown to Mayo Clinic the night of his birth and had open heart surgery when he was 3 days old.

He stayed at Mayo about two weeks and then returned home
to Bismarck.
Medcenter One works with Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologists to help young heart patients in a way that cuts down on the number of trips families have to take to the renowned Minnesota clinic.

At 6 months of age, Daxton had another heart surgery to put in a valve. But rather than having to make multiple trips to Rochester for follow-up care, he is seen by Mayo Clinic cardiologists who travel to Bismarck every month.

“For infants and children with heart surgery, there are very few places in the Midwest that do those types of things,” Dr. Eidem said.

The arrangement between Medcenter One and Mayo Clinic, established in 1997, provides for immediate transmission of echocardiograms through a special cable line. The Mayo pediatric cardiologists can be in communication with the ultrasound technologist during the exam and can provide results immediately or the same day.

Having a Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologist reading the echocardiogram as it is being performed, or immediately afterward, allows Medcenter One pediatricians to decide which patients have to be moved to Rochester for surgery. This means patients aren’t moved unnecessarily for diagnosis— saving time and decreasing stress to parents.

“Before we had this service, we sometimes would send patients to Mayo Clinic that could have waited for an assessment at a later date,” Dr. Ocejo said, “because it was difficult to know how critical the condition was at the time.”

Many of the same doctors and nurses take care of Daxton when he goes to Mayo Clinic for his surgeries, including Dr. Eidem.

“The continuum of care is something we really appreciate,” said his mother, Julie Helten. “We feel really fortunate because he’s such a great doctor.”

Even though Daxton has had three open heart surgeries, he has progressed through his developmental milestones and is a typical 2-year-old boy.

   Dr. Ben Eidem
Dr. Ben Eidem
Pediatric cardiology
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minn.

Dr. Rafael Ocejo
Dr. Rafael Ocejo
Neonatologist/
pediatrician
Medcenter One
Q&R Clinic Pediatrics
“He’s doing very well, and I have no concerns about him,” Dr. Ocejo said. “The cardiologists and I are happy with the way he’s progressing.”

Daxton loves sports, especially football and hockey, even though he won’t be able to participate in those or other contact sports, his mom said.

“You wouldn’t know he had any type of surgery,” Julie said. “He’s such a trooper. He’s been through so much and yet he goes to his appointments without a fight, which is truly a testament to the level of care he receives from the doctors and nurses at Medcenter One and Mayo Clinic. He’s a sweet little boy.”

Click here for more information about Medcenter One’s innovative pediatric services.

 
home page