Cleveland Clinic opens new health center in East Cleveland in honor of Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Cleveland Clinic recently opened its new health center in East Cleveland, which has been named in honor of longtime public servant and advocate Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center offers a model of outpatient care that links healthcare with social and financial services. It was named after Tubbs Jones, the congresswoman, judge and prosecutor, who devoted her career to public service before her death in 2008. Tubbs Jones was passionate about expanding healthcare coverage for low- and middle-income people and co-sponsored many legislative initiatives to achieve this goal.

“Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a dedicated public servant who worked to improve the city of East Cleveland and Northeast Ohio,” said Toby M. Cosgrove, M.D., Cleveland Clinic president and CEO. “She knew the importance of healthcare and worked to achieve improved access for the underserved. We believe it’s important to continue to recognize her accomplishments and continue her mission of providing the right care for this community.”

The three-story, 50,000-square-foot center is located on Euclid Avenue. The $25 million health center is designed to reach beyond traditional healthcare services and link with community resources in one location to make it easier for patients and their families to access the healthcare, social and financial services they need.

The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center offers a variety of outpatient services, including primary and specialty care, specialized care for women and children, mental health services, as well as prevention, wellness and health education programs. The new center places a strong emphasis on chronic disease management with a focus on diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure. The center continues Huron Hospital’s dedication to preventive care and chronic disease management, which is a critical need in East Cleveland and the surrounding area.

“We look forward to continuing to help patients learn how to prevent and manage their diseases,” said Cynthia Deyling, M.D., chair of Cleveland Clinic’s regional operations. “The center also will offer access to the latest in medical technology and help patients to stay connected with their healthcare providers, which will result in better outcomes for our patients.”

The centerpiece of the facility is a Navigation Center where patient navigators help people maneuver their way through the complexities of the healthcare system by assessing, engaging and coordinating each individual’s medical, social service and financial needs and linking them to the appropriate resources.

Patient Navigators will help coordinate healthcare services, ensure timely treatment and provide information about treatment options and preventive behaviors. Navigation services include:

  • Linking patients to financial counselors and community resources
  • Helping patients fill out complex financial and community resource eligibility forms
  • Arranging for transportation to and from the center
  • Connecting patients with physicians
  • Ensuring appointments for follow-up services 
  • Serving as a resource and point of contact into the Cleveland Clinic Health System

The center also includes an Iron Chef teaching kitchen to help patients learn how to cook healthy, inexpensive recipes, as well as meeting rooms for community programming, a full-service pharmacy and a 21-bed dialysis unit.

Cleveland Clinic is providing free round-trip shuttle transportation from the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center for patients to easily get to their appointments at Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus, Euclid, Hillcrest and South Pointe hospitals for services not available at the health center, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The center was created through community partnerships with financial, health education and social service agencies. Current collaborations include partnerships with Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, a network of six community health centers that provide primary care and ancillary services; East Cleveland Neighborhood Center; and East Cleveland Public Library, which houses the Huron Hospital Minority Health Resource Center.

The building was designed by Columbus-based Moody·Nolan, a Northeast Ohio minority business design firm, which has an office in Cleveland.

Scott Heasley

Scott Heasley is a media relations manager for the Cleveland Clinic.

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Volume 4, Issue 11, Posted 11:32 AM, 10.27.2011