I was disappointed to read Michael Robert’s recent column (“Bad Blood,” February issue) about The Cleveland Clinic. It inaccurately depicts the institution, its accomplishments and its core mission of providing patients with world-class medical care.
Throughout its 86-year history, The Cleveland Clinic has built a global reputation by providing the most advanced medical care by continuously innovating, finding cures and new treatments that dramatically improve the quality of life for those with serious medical conditions. The Clinic, which serves as a model nationwide, has pioneered numerous medical frontiers, revolutionizing the fields of cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and neurology, among others.
The future of health care rests in advances in information technology, new devices, quality measurement, genomic medicine and globalization, in addition to superbly trained professionals. Few organizations are positioned to lead in these areas. Yet, The Cleveland Clinic is at the forefront of all of them.
In addition, the Clinic is one of the major engines driving Northeast Ohio’s economy. With more than 36,000-plus employees, it is the largest employer in the region. In 2004, the economic benefit to Cleveland, its environs and its residents was estimated at $2.5 billion.
The Clinic is pursuing collaborative efforts to assist in revitalizing and redeveloping parts of Cleveland. It has committed $10 million to public schools in communities it serves and has provided more than $350 million in community betterment, including $106 million in charity care in 2006. The institution also strives to improve the lives of Cleveland area residents through a multitude of community outreach initiatives, such as the $60 million Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center in Fairfax.
Under Dr. Cosgrove’s leadership, The Cleveland Clinic has never been stronger. The Clinic is growing, building cutting-edge facilities and creating jobs at a time when other hospitals and businesses are struggling to survive. Locally, the Clinic has taken an active role in improving the health of the community. Nationally, the Clinic is advocating on important health policy issues and participating in national dialogues on quality measurements and
reporting.
The Clinic’s medical expertise and reputation for innovation draw patients not only from here, but across the country and around the world.
To ignore or simplify the core of the Clinic’s mission is a disservice to patients and our region at large.
Oliver C. Henkel Jr.
Executive Director
Government and Community Relations
The Cleveland Clinic