Cleveland Clinic, a growing player in international healthcare, is expanding its global network of in-country representatives to five new locations: Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.
The Clinic now has in-country representatives covering a total of 16 countries. In addition to the five new countries, they are the Bahamas, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Panama, Peru, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The health system said in a news release on Tuesday, Nov. 29, that in-country representatives "draw on their shared language and cultural understanding to facilitate a smooth journey for patients."
Representatives work to connect patients to Clinic care available at locations in the United States; Toronto; London; and Abu Dhabi. They arrange online educational consultations, second opinions where available and follow-up appointments, as well as in-person treatment at the closest Clinic facility.
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Dr. Curtis Rimmerman, chairman of Cleveland Clinic International Operations, said in a statement, "By expanding our network of in-country representatives, we are able to increase access to care by breaking down language and cultural barriers that may have prevented patients from seeking treatments that might not have been available to them previously."
The Clinic system has 22 hospitals and more than 220 outpatient facilities globally. Patients from about 185 countries come to Clinic facilities for treatment.
This story first appeared in our sister publication, Crain's Cleveland Business.
