A Cleveland Clinic Update for You from Tom Mihaljevic, MD, CEO and President

March 20, 2020

Questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) are coming at us from every direction — media, public health officials, family and friends.

While today’s answers may not be tomorrow’s answers, we at Cleveland Clinicare working hard to monitor and adapt to the ever-changing situation. Our primary goal is to continue fulfilling our mission and protect our patients and caregivers. We are taking every precaution to contain the virus’ spread and provide the most accurate, up-to-date information.

On Saturday, March 14, we began our remote testing site. Our clinicians have worked tirelessly to make Cleveland Clinic one of the first hospitals in the country with testing in-house. This allows us to get test results faster. We have also set up tents outside all of our emergency departments where patients can be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposures prior to entering. We have tightened our visitation policy and are limiting access into our facilities. These are necessary precautions to limit exposure to our caregivers and patients.

The healthcare industry as a whole – including providers, payers and regulators – is deeply concerned about this pandemic. We are all in agreement that containing the virus is our highest priority and that these nationwide actions are necessary:

  • Assuring access to screening, testing and treatment for all Americans
  • Scaling up testing capacity throughout the United States
  • Ensuring that Americans who test positive can recuperate with assurance from their employers
  • And, lifting state regulations on telemedicine

These actions, when combined with proper hand hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing, will better prepare the American health system to respond.

We are also working diligently to educate our communities through our coronavirus web page and other digital content. These public-facing messages have already received more than 1.7 million visits. As we learn more about COVID-19, we will continue to share this information digitally with as many people as possible. You can help us by sharing the web page link above with your family and friends.

Your continued support to our organization has already had a profound impact on research efforts and support of our patients, caregivers and greater community. In response to so many people who have offered to help further, we have established a website where you can make a gift that will directly benefit our COVID-19 response efforts.

Uncertain times like this remind us why the leadership, expertise and innovation of nearly 100 years is our shared legacy at Cleveland Clinic – and why it is our responsibility to leverage those strengths now. Everyone is looking to us to do what is right, and we will. 

Thank you for your generosity as we navigate this situation together.

Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD
President and CEO