At Cleveland Clinic Florida, the next generation of physicians walks the corridors learning more than just the ins and outs of their individual medical specialties. These residents and fellows of Browards largest and only institutionally-accredited Graduate Medical Education program see the world of health care through the eyes of a model of medicine that has been praised nationally, during the ongoing health care reform debate, for efficiently delivering quality care.
According to Maggie Mahar, a health-care fellow at the Washington-based Century Foundation who was quoted in a (Cleveland) Plain Dealer article on health care reform, “Physicians who work for a single employer usually find it easier to coordinate care, repeat tests less and provide a continuum of care.” That statement speaks to the heart of Cleveland Clinics success, our unique model of medicine. Cleveland Clinic has salaried physicians working in a multi-specialty, academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. That success has led to Cleveland Clinics expansion in Florida. Staff physicians now number nearly 180, where there were only 100 in 2006. Facility expansion in Weston is ongoing, despite the economic times. And the Cleveland Clinic Florida Health and Wellness Center in West Palm Beach, which was relocated and expanded at the end of 2008, continues to see a growing number of patients. As a teaching hospital, we at Cleveland Clinic Florida are acutely aware of the role we play in influencing the next generation of physicians and the quality of health care available in South Florida. In June 2009, we graduated 34 residents and fellows, 12 of whom are remaining in the area. Five of these graduates have continued with Cleveland Clinic as either staff physicians or for additional advanced training. In addition, many Cleveland Clinic graduates now occupy key leadership positions at universities and teaching hospitals across the country, including at most of the major institutions in Florida. These doctors, no matter where they go, however, take with them an appreciation of the benefits of Cleveland Clinics model of medicine, which was founded on the philosophy that patients always come first. They witness firsthand the level of care provided to patients by a multidisciplinary, collaborative team of physicians that can set and surpass industry standards. They enjoy the advantages of electronic medical record technology and recognize the enormous benefit to patient care. Lastly, they learn that comprehensive care can be both cost-effective and of the highest quality. Cleveland Clinic Florida, with a long-standing tradition of advancing medical research and education, has grown into a nationally respected academic medical center. Thousands of applicants compete annually for a few dozen residency and fellowship positions. Many more physicians are trained in research and in our subspecialty clinical programs each year. We offer ACGME-accredited programs in cardiology, colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, geriatrics, internal medicine, nephrology, neurology, and plastic surgery. Our non-ACGME accreditable programs include EMG, movement disorders, stroke, spine, orthopaedics, urology, urogynecology, uro-oncology, and vascular medicine. As we welcome each new class, we do not take lightly our responsibility in helping shape the future of medicine and health care delivery in the United States.
