Satellite Clinic To Be Set Up in Toronto By Ohio-Based Cleveland Clinic

It has been proposed by the Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic, to inaugrate a satellite clinic in Toroto before this summer, the services which would benefit Canadians considering a trip to the southern border for medical treatment. The Cleveland clinic houses more than 1,900 scientists and physicians and is the second largest medical group in the U.S, treating pateints from 80 different countries.

In addition to information on health care options available in the U.S., health and wellness counseling would also be provided by Cleveland Clinic Canada, operating from 25,000-square-foot office on the 30th floor of BCE Tower. The partership between the Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic and Canadian-owned Copeland Group is siad to have paved for this establishement.

'A big part of this is really just increasing our brand awareness in the Toronto and Ontario market. Just being there, having our name around, letting people know that we exist, so that if people want to go to the United States, we can help arrange that,' said David Bronson, Chairman, Regional practices, Cleveland Clinic.

More than 600 pateints from the Greater Toronto Area visit the Cleveland Clinic every year, who locate the American Hospital either through referral by their family physician or via the Internet. Cardiovasular and orthopedic treatment offered at the clinic are on high demand.

The service promotion is belived to attarct Canadian patients who now visit the Mayo Clinic that opeates a facility from Rochester. 'A lot of Canadians go to the Mayo Clinic, and we're hopeful that increasing our brand recognition will generate more business for us and a little less for our competition. We think going to Ohio is a little closer,' said Dr. Bronson.

Dietary counseling, stress managemnet, referals to hospitals in the U.S., that are currently not covered under the OHIP would be provided by the satellite clinic. Pateints refered through corporate clients would be billed on a fee-per-service basis. Approximately 2000 to 3000 patients are expected to attend the new health service.

'We have a clear commitment that medicare is a fundamental Canadian value, and we believe in the preservation for essential health care services for Ontarians. We monitor private clinics very closely to ensure that they're working within the laws of Ontario,' said Jenna LeBlanc, a spokeswoman for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.