Cleveland Clinic

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four physicians in Cleveland, OH, to provide care, research, and education. It is a nonprofit organization with an impressive history of continuous innovation.

Among Cleveland Clinic’s groundbreaking innovations are:

• 1948: Discovered the neurotransmitter serotonin
• 1967: Pioneered heart failure care with bypass surgery
• 1998: Performed the first successful larynx transplant
• 2008: Performed the first near-total face transplant in the nation
• 2016: Performed the first brain surgery to restore function for stroke patients
• 2021: Developed a vaccine that prevents a deadly form of breast cancer

Today, the clinic continues to work towards becoming the world’s leader in patient experience, clinical outcomes, research, and education.

“We are dedicated to lifesaving research and educating tomorrow’s caregivers.”

Cleveland Clinic is also one of the country’s top cancer treatment centers.

Cleveland Cancer Center has over 700 doctors, researchers, nurses, and health care providers. It ranks at the top for patient services and survival. It is also known for its high nurse-to-patient ratio.

Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center’s Lung Cancer Program provides the highest-quality care for patients with various lung conditions, including pleural mesothelioma.

Get our comprehensive Free Mesothelioma Guide for more information on seeking treatment at Cleveland Clinic or other top mesothelioma cancer centers.

Cleveland Clinic Location and Overview

While Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio, is the main location, it also has 226 outpatient clinic locations and 21 hospitals across Ohio, Florida, Nevada, and internationally.

Fast Facts – Cleveland Clinic

• Cares for 2.9 million patients annually, with 10.2 million outpatient visits globally
• Has over 5,000 physicians and scientists and almost 15,000 nurses
• Consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report as one of the top hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” report
• Member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC), a National Cancer Institute-designated partnership organization
• Its cardiology program has been ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report since 1995
• Received a grade of A in 2021’s Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, recognizing excellence in patient safety
• Magnet status at six of its campuses, which recognizes excellence in nursing
• Home to a robust education program that supports diagnosing and treating complex medical conditions
• Established a partnership in 2021 with Case Western Reserve University, creating a medical school that teaches physician-scientists

Cleveland Clinic Patient Experience

Cleveland Clinic’s “Patients First” guiding principle provides a world-class patient experience. Multidisciplinary teams carefully address patient physical comfort and emotional, spiritual, and educational needs.

Patient care teams include physicians, nurses, ethicists, and social workers, who provide the support necessary for decision-making at every stage of treatment.

Cleveland Clinic patients can access integrative medical therapies like:

• Acupuncture
• Art therapy
• Chiropractic therapy
• Massage
• Music therapy
• Nutrition
• Pet therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Reiki
• Yoga

Cleveland Clinic also sponsors and hosts support groups for patients and their loved ones who face the uncertainty of serious medical conditions. Many patients report that mesothelioma support groups can be an excellent way to cope with the diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Program at Cleveland Clinic

The Lung Cancer Program at Cleveland Clinic combines a multidisciplinary team of medical oncologists, pulmonologists, radiation oncologists, and thoracic surgeons. The team works together to provide unique and comprehensive care for patients with pleural mesothelioma.

Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center’s specialists recognize that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to mesothelioma treatment. Therefore, the mesothelioma team helps patients find the most effective treatment for their diagnosis, allowing for the best possible quality of life.

Mesothelioma Doctors at Cleveland Clinic

Physicians in Cleveland Clinic’s Lung Cancer Program include:

• Dr. Usman Ahmad
• Dr. Francisco Aécio Almeida
• Dr. Humberto Choi
• Dr. Molly Freeman
• Dr. Khaled Hassan
• Dr. Michael Machuzak
• Dr. Sudish Murthy
• Dr. Nathan Pennell
• Dr. Daniel Raymond
• Dr. Kevin Stephans
• Dr. James Stevenson
• Dr. Gregory Videtic

The specialists at Cleveland Clinic are some of the country’s best at treating pleural mesothelioma. However, choosing a mesothelioma specialist you and your family are comfortable with is a highly personal decision.

If you would like help finding the best mesothelioma doctor for you, we can help. Use our free doctor match to get assistance.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

Laboratory tests are not able to precisely diagnose mesothelioma. However, the Cleveland Clinic offers many cutting-edge diagnostic tests to detect the condition.

Diagnostic tests offered at this facility include:

• Physical exam and history: The physician will look for signs such as lumps and ask questions regarding the patient’s exposure to asbestos.
• Chest Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: Effective for showing abnormal growths or thickening of the tissue inside the chest cavity.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: Able to show if the disease is metastasizing (spreading past where it formed).
• Complete Blood Count (CBC): A blood sample showing the count of red and white blood cells and certain antibodies.
• Biopsy: Removal of tissue from the lining of the chest or abdomen with a thin needle or a small incision, which is then analyzed under a microscope.
• Bronchoscopy: Insertion of a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth into the trachea and lungs.
• Cytologic exam: Fluid is removed from around the lungs and examined under a microscope.

Multimodal Mesothelioma Treatment

A personalized treatment plan will begin if a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed. Since no solid tumor exists, mesothelioma can spread along nerves, blood vessels, and tissues. This makes it a complex condition, often requiring multimodal therapy.

Surgical procedures at Cleveland Clinic may include:

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Removing one whole lung and part of the chest lining, the diaphragm, and the sac lining around the heart.
• Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): Removing some of the covering of the lungs, the lining of the chest, and part of the outside surface of the lungs.
• Pleurodesis: Using chemicals or drugs to cause scarring in pleural tissue stops fluid buildup in the pleural cavity (pleural effusions).

It is very difficult to remove all tissue affected by mesothelioma surgically. Additionally, not all mesothelioma patients are candidates for surgery. Therefore, other therapies may be required to support surgical intervention.

Other mesothelioma treatments offered at the Cleveland Clinic include:

• Chemotherapy: Using medicine (that is swallowed via a pill or injected directly into a vein or muscle) to stop cancer growth, either by killing the cells or preventing them from dividing.
• Immunotherapy: Using medicine to help boost the body’s immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells. The body can then shrink tumors or slow the cancer’s growth.
• Radiation therapy: Using X-rays or other kinds of radiation to kill cancer cells, usually following surgery.
• Thoracentesis or catheters: Removing excess fluid buildup from the chest to make breathing easier and ease other mesothelioma symptoms.

Cleveland Clinic is also a certified Optune Lua™ treatment center. This wearable device uses painless electric fields attached to pads to treat pleural mesothelioma. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating pleural mesothelioma.

In a clinical study, the 1-year mesothelioma survival rate was 60% for patients treated with Optune Lua™.

Following treatment, diagnostic tests may be repeated to assess if the patient’s cancer has spread and which additional therapies (if any) should be used.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials and Research at Cleveland Clinic

In addition to traditional treatment options, patients may be eligible to participate in Cleveland Clinic’s mesothelioma clinical trials.

Clinical trials allow access to promising mesothelioma treatments that are being developed but not yet FDA-approved.

Volunteers in mesothelioma clinical trials can play a more active role in their health care and gain access to new treatments before they are widely available to the public. They can also help others by contributing to medical research.

Cancer research is a top priority at Cleveland Clinic. In recent health news, the National Cancer Institute awarded over $7.9 million to Cleveland Clinic and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

The funds support a new Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (ROBIN) center. The center seeks to uncover factors impacting the effectiveness of radiation-based combination therapies.

Cleveland Clinic Insurance Information

At Cleveland Clinic, no referral is required. However, insurance companies might require one to provide coverage.

Most Medicaid and Medicare patients will be covered. Cleveland Clinic also accepts exchange plans, transplant plans, and more.

Commercial plans accepted at Cleveland Clinic include:

• Aetna
• Aetna Signature Administrators
• American Health Holding (Strategic Health Development) – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Anthem BCBS
• Aultcare Health Plan
• Beacon Health Options – Akron General only
• Beech Street – Does not include Union Hospital
• CCHS Employee Health Plan
• CIGNA
• Cigna Healthcare of Ohio
• Cigna Local Plus
• Community Health Alliance – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• First Health
• Front Path Health Coalition – Cleveland Clinic main campus and Akron General only
• Group Management Services (GMS)
• HealthScope Benefits – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• HealthSmart (Emerald Health Network) – Does not include Union Hospital
• Humana National POS
• Humana Choice Care Network
• Humana Military (Tricare) Select – Does not include Union Hospital
• Humana Military (Tricare) Prime – Does not include Union Hospital
• Lutheran Preferred – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Managed Care Services Signature Care PPO (Parkview Health Plan Systems) – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Medical Benefits Corporation (MedBen) – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Medical Benefits Administrators/Lauren International – Union Hospital only
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• Multiplan
• North American Health Plan, Inc. – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• North Shore-LIJ Health Plan – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Ohio Health Choice Plan (OHCP)
• OhioHealthy
• Ohio PPO Connect
• Paramount Health Care – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Paramount Preferred Options – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Parkview Health Plan Services Signature Care PPO – Managed Care Services
• Private HealthCare Systems (PHCS)
• Protocol Tertiary Network – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Quality Care Partners – Does not include Mercy Hospital
• Quality Health Management – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Sparrow Physicians Health Network – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Strategic Health Development (American Health Holding) – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• SummaCare Commercial (Premier and Prime)
• Tertiary Care Network – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• The Health Plan (of the Upper Ohio Valley)
• Three Rivers Preferred – Cleveland Clinic main campus only
• Today’s Options PFFS
• United Healthcare
• UPMC for Life Dual/Life Options
• UPMC HealthyU
• UPMC Advantage
• UPMC Consumer Advantage
• UPMC Individual Advantage
• UPMC Inside Advantage
• UPMC MyCare Advantage
• UPMC Small Business Advantage
• UPMC Business Advantage
• USA Managed Care Organization – Cleveland Clinic main campus and Akron General only
• Vantage PPO – Does not include Mercy Hospital
• SC Select – Union Hospital only

Seeking Mesothelioma Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

To request an appointment at Cleveland Clinic, book online or call (216) 444-CARE.

After scheduling your appointment, Cleveland Clinic’s medical concierge can assist with any additional arrangements you may require. The concierge can help coordinate hotel and lodging options, airport transportation, and interpreters.

For dedicated assistance with all of your mesothelioma needs, including seeking care at one of the top mesothelioma cancer treatment centers, connect with Mesothelioma Hope now.

Our Patient Advocates have over 45 years of combined experience. They are highly trained to offer personalized assistance to mesothelioma patients and their families.

Patient Advocates are standing by 24/7 to assist you.