Barton Health Becomes a Cleveland Clinic Connected Member

Barton Health becomes the newest member to join the Cleveland Clinic Connected program, which provides members with access to the highest standards of patient care, quality and safety.   

The goal of the Cleveland Clinic Connected program is to build a global network of independent, like-minded, quality-focused organizations that have a positive impact on patient care.  

Barton Health is committed to providing consistently exceptional care to both residents and visitors of the Lake Tahoe region. By joining Cleveland Clinic Connected, Barton seeks to elevate its care delivery through unique access to Cleveland Clinic’s clinical expertise and specialized resources. This collaboration will support the development of more comprehensive service lines in key areas that significantly impact the health of its community, including cardiology, oncology, and neurology. Through this member program, Barton aims to enhance its capabilities and ensure advanced, high-quality care is accessible for its patients close to home. 

Cleveland Clinic created Cleveland Clinic Connected in response to the increased global demand for quality healthcare. The collaborative program enables hospitals and healthcare organizations to connect with Cleveland Clinic’s clinical and operational experts to improve patient care, enhance operational efficiencies, and supports the professional development and education of clinical and non-clinical staff. Through the program, members benefit from clinical and operational support and best practices developed during Cleveland Clinic’s 104-year history.  

“Our goal with the Cleveland Clinic Connected program is to positively impact patient care no matter where patients live,” said Tommaso Falcone, M.D., Cleveland Clinic Executive Vice President and President, International and Emerging Markets. “Together, this collaboration underscores our shared commitment to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients. We are excited to welcome Barton Health to the Cleveland Clinic Connected program.”  

As a Cleveland Clinic Connected member, Barton Health clinicians will be able to access educational opportunities either at Cleveland Clinic or through distance learning, as well as best practices and protocols that are used at Cleveland Clinic locations worldwide. In addition, Barton Health’s staff can access Cleveland Clinic’s continuous quality improvement and advisory services, plus education and training including clinical observership programs. 

“Our rural community deserves access to the best care possible, and Cleveland Clinic Connected represents a significant step forward in advancing that goal,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, President & CEO of Barton Health. “We value the opportunity to work alongside such esteemed colleagues as we continue our journey of continuous improvement and healthcare excellence. This collaboration will allow us to expand our expertise, strengthen key service lines, and ultimately provide our patients with more advanced, comprehensive care, right here in Lake Tahoe.” 

Cleveland Clinic and Barton Health are working together to identify priority focus areas, which will begin with planning for the expansion of cardiology, neurology, and cancer care. Cleveland Clinic’s top ranked heart care team will consult with Barton Health to enhance opportunities to provide new treatments and therapies to patients, as well as explore cutting-edge technologies and techniques in cardiac and vascular care that will accelerate advances in treatments. With the expertise of the Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic is consulting with Barton Health to support the launch of a new cancer program, providing expert guidance and proven best practices to expand access to high-quality cancer care in the region. 

The focus on neurology builds on Cleveland Clinic’s nearly 20-year presence in Nevada, which began with the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in downtown Las Vegas in 2009. This specialized outpatient neurological center is dedicated to the research, treatment, education, and support of individuals and families affected by neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, and multiple sclerosis. With Cleveland Clinic in an advisory role, Barton Health looks to expand its neurological services, including the addition of leading diagnostic technology to care for individuals facing neurological disorders in Lake Tahoe. 

Additionally, the collaboration will bring Cleveland Clinic’s expertise in building design, patient flow, and space optimization as Barton Health plans for expansion on its Nevada campus — a transformative project for Lake Tahoe healthcare, which aims to construct a state-of-the art hospital, featuring increased emergency and surgical capacity, improved care rooms, and modern medical equipment to advance the delivery of patient care and continue to improve health outcomes.  

Keep Memory Alive’s annual Summer Festival & Rodeo returns on Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10 at the historic Shakespeare Ranch, a private estate in Glenbrook, for more western fun with the addition of a luxury car show experience to raise funds in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases across Nevada. This year, the Summer Festival and Rodeo will recognize Barton Health with the Community Leadership Award for their longstanding commitment to serving the Lake Tahoe community. 

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. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 82,600 employees worldwide are more than 5,786 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,700 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,728-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 280 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2024, there were 15.7 million outpatient encounters, 333,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 320,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 112 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Editor’s Note:Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.  

About Barton Health

Barton Health is a non-profit, bi-state healthcare system providing nationally recognized, compassionate care to residents and visitors of the Lake Tahoe region. Nestled in one of the most iconic alpine destinations in the world, Barton proudly serves an active, outdoor-oriented community with a wide range of services focused on promoting lifelong health and wellness. Since its founding in 1963, Barton Memorial Hospital has grown into a regional hub for health and healing, featuring 63 licensed acute care beds and an additional 48 beds in its Skilled Nursing Facility. Barton Health offers extensive inpatient and outpatient care, cutting-edge medical specialties, advanced surgical treatments, and a network of providers committed to enhancing community wellbeing. Recognized for multiple years on Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list, Barton continues to set the standard for excellence in rural healthcare. A leader in orthopedic and sports medicine, Barton provides specialized trauma care as a designated Level III Trauma Center and is home to the Lake Tahoe Orthopedics Sports Medicine Fellowship, a nationally accredited program training the next generation of surgeons nationwide. For more information, visit bartonhealth.org.