TriHealth Announces Affiliation with Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute
TriHealth, a Cincinnati-based integrated healthcare delivery system, announced it is now an affiliate of Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute – the nation’s top-ranked heart program, according to U.S. News & World Report.
At a press conference on TriHealth’s Bethesda North campus and broadcast live to many of TriHealth’s 140 sites of care, Cleveland Clinic and TriHealth leaders described how this collaboration will further elevate cardiovascular care in and around the Cincinnati region.
“This clinical affiliation builds on significant investments by TriHealth over the past several years to develop the region’s destination heart and vascular program. This endeavor complements other TriHealth enterprise collaborations with a focus on improving healthcare through strategic relationships,” said TriHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Mark C. Clement.
“By affiliating with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, which has achieved U.S. News & World Report’s No. 1 ranking for cardiology and heart surgery for the past 28 consecutive years, we are taking another vital step toward providing patients the right care in the right place at the right time.”
Cleveland Clinic will work with TriHealth clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, including those at Good Samaritan Hospital, Bethesda North Hospital and the TriHealth Heart & Vascular Institute. Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute will share clinical best practices for patient care, giving TriHealth patients access to the expertise of Cleveland Clinic physicians as well as the latest technologies and innovations in heart care.
This affiliation does not change TriHealth’s status as an independent health system, nor will Cleveland Clinic physicians be providing direct patient care at TriHealth’s locations. This relationship makes TriHealth an exclusive Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute affiliate in southern Ohio.
“Management of heart disease is complex, but we can advance the treatment of cardiovascular disease to benefit our communities by working together on programs like this,” said Lars Svensson, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. “Our affiliation with TriHealth will allow for sharing of best practices, while working together to ensure the highest quality care to TriHealth’s patients.”
This historic affiliation is the next step in TriHealth’s long-term strategy to develop the region’s destination heart and vascular program. The strategy began in 2018 with the consolidation of TriHealth’s heart surgery programs to the Bethesda North campus, which has resulted in greater standardization of care leading to better outcomes for patients.
“Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute’s Affiliate Program started 19 years ago and is continuously offering innovative services,” said Suma Thomas, M.D., Vice Chairman of Strategic Operations, Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.
“We are happy to welcome TriHealth into this exclusive and growing group. Cleveland Clinic has identified TriHealth as the premier cardiac program in the Cincinnati area, with a long history of excellence in heart care. This affiliation is a collaboration that enables both organizations to optimize cardiac care for all patients.”
Bethesda North recently opened a new cardiac cath lab, giving TriHealth nine cath labs and procedure rooms. TriHealth is also expanding the hospital’s first-floor cardiovascular ICU with anticipated completion in early 2023. The new center housing these services will be named the Harold and Eugenia Thomas Heart and Vascular Center in recognition of their transformational $10 million gift in support of the project.
At the same time, TriHealth is investing in cardiology and vascular services at Good Samaritan Hospital as part of its $250 million investment in that facility. This is in addition to recent investments in cardiac services at TriHealth’s outpatient settings, including the Good Samaritan – Western Ridge Ambulatory Campus in Green Township.
“This affiliation will bolster the cutting-edge work already happening at the TriHealth Heart & Vascular Institute,” said Mark Witte, TriHealth Vice President of Clinical Service Lines. “We’re excited to work with Cleveland Clinic to improve our opportunities to provide comprehensive and innovative care for patients and to see both organizations strengthen all elements of our collective cardiovascular medicine and cardiothoracic surgery programs.”
“This collaboration between TriHealth and Cleveland Clinic will bring new and improved services to the Cincinnati market,” said TriHealth cardiovascular surgeon Kathryn O’Keefe, M.D., who trained at Cleveland Clinic last year. “Our working together enhances the ability to provide multiple surgical and non-surgical options to patients suffering from advanced heart failure with a personalized care path for their specific needs.”
The Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute’s affiliate program was launched in 2003. The affiliate network includes 16 hospitals across the country, with the addition of TriHealth’s Bethesda North and Good Samaritan hospitals. As affiliates, the TriHealth Heart and Vascular Institute and Cleveland Clinic remain independent, with no changes in control of physicians or staff.
To learn more about this affiliation, visit https://www.trihealth.com/heart
For more information on the TriHealth Heart Institute, visit https://www.trihealth.com/institutes-and-services/trihealth-heart-institute.
For more information on Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, visit www.ClevelandClinic.org/heart.