The Alice L. Walton Foundation and Cleveland Clinic announced Monday a joint initiative to identify ways to bring Cleveland Clinic’s renowned specialty care services to Northwest Arkansas.
The organizations will assess specialty care needs in the region and develop recommendations for healthcare solutions to best meet those needs. Specialty care services require specialized knowledge or skill related to a specific health condition. A recent study shows many Northwest Arkansas residents currently seek specialty care outside the region.
“As Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, it’s imperative that we increase access to specialty care in our region, so residents don’t have to travel elsewhere for care they could receive closer to home,” Alice Walton said in a statement. “I’ve long admired Cleveland Clinic’s innovative approach to care that is aimed at elevating the well-being of the community with a system for lifelong health. Our goal with this collaboration to assess the specialty care needs of our region is to investigate how to make a transformative approach to health and well-being available to everyone.”
Founded in 2017, the Alice L. Walton Foundation works to enhance quality of life for individuals and communities through providing access to offerings that enhance well-being. In 2020, Walton announced the formation of the Whole Health Institute and earlier this year, she announced the formation of the Whole Health School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Both of these organizations focus on redesigning the systems that impact health and well-being with the goal of making whole health accessible and affordable to all.
“At Cleveland Clinic, our purpose is caring for others,” said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic. “We believe it is our responsibility to provide more patients with access to Cleveland Clinic’s safe, quality and compassionate care. The Alice L. Walton Foundation shares this commitment to serving others, and we are pleased to work together in support of the Northwest Arkansas community.”
The foundation and clinic envision that any future specialty care initiatives they may develop in the region would collaborate with the Whole Health Institute to identify opportunities for increased patient experience and engagement, with the goal of improving health outcomes, according to a press release.
“I’m delighted to work with Cleveland Clinic to determine how best to bring world class specialty care to Northwest Arkansas,” Walton said. “Our thriving region has always had a culture of collaboration and focus on serving the community’s needs. As we grow and welcome new residents daily, we will all benefit from increased access to excellent and innovative care.”
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