Cleveland Clinic CEO Shares Prescription for the Future of American Healthcare in New Book

CLEVELAND, Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to cut through the politics, the shouting and the buzzwords surrounding American healthcare, Cleveland Clinic and McGraw-Hill Professional have released "The Cleveland Clinic Way: Lessons in Excellence from One of the World's Leading Healthcare Organizations." The book, authored by Toby Cosgrove, M.D., president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, offers a framework to help Americans better understand how we as a society can encourage higher-quality healthcare.

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Against the backdrop of real patient stories, the book explores eight trends that can make healthcare in America more efficient, as proven by the Clinic's own experience in implementing these practices.  The book reveals the Clinic's approach to patient care and treatment—from multidisciplinary teams to its group-practice model to the unique way it compensates its doctors. Part of the Clinic's philosophy, which is explored in the book, also includes a conscious move from "sick care" to "well care," the concept of same-day appointments to meet a need it has seen from patients, and the organization's "customer service" approach.

"Our unique approach to patient care allows us to be innovative, compassionate, and successful in achieving the best outcomes for patients around the world with complex diseases," said Dr. Cosgrove. "By sharing these lessons, we hope to see these tried-and-true practices embedded into the fabric of our nation's healthcare system."

Throughout the book, Dr. Cosgrove offers his insider experience as a surgeon and healthcare executive. He acknowledges the challenges facing America's healthcare system, but takes a strongly optimistic view about the future.  

"The Cleveland Clinic Way" is published by McGraw-Hill Professional. It is available in print and eBook for purchase wherever books are sold.  For more information, visit clevelandclinic.org/clevelandclinicway.

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. More than 3,000 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, more than 75 Northern Ohio outpatient locations, including 16 full-service Family Health Centers, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and, currently under construction, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2012, there were 5.1 million outpatient visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 157,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 130 countries. Visit us at http://my.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.

SOURCE Cleveland Clinic