In 1921, the Cleveland Clinic opened its doors in Ohio for the first time, with the goal to be the best place for truly exceptional medical care. Only a few years later, in 1926, what would become United Airlines piloted its first flight, from Pasco, Washington, to Boise, Idaho, taking off on a journey to connect people and unite the world. In the almost 100 years since, these two global enterprises have dedicated themselves to putting their patients and their customers at the center of everything they do.
The impact of COVID-19 on the global community is unprecedented. It has stretched across industries—from healthcare to aviation and beyond. For this reason, the Cleveland Clinic is proud to partner with United to ensure every step of your travel experience is safe, and each action follows Cleveland Clinic’s best practices and standards.
Although the Cleveland Clinic’s relationship with United began long before the pandemic, we find ourselves partnering together in ways we never imagined. We at Cleveland Clinic believe United is leading with the safest health protocols in the aviation industry. The early action the airline has taken to curb the spread of the virus in airports and on board flights has demonstrated its commitment to the health and safety of its customers.
Keeping You Safe
The science is clear: wearing a mask helps mitigate the spread of COVID-19. For this reason, we helped United establish its mask requirement for all employees and passengers on board and in any United-owned spaces throughout the airport. In addition to the mask policy, over the past few months we have worked together, with the support of Clorox, to launch United CleanPlus. This partnership ensures top safety and cleanliness standards to keep people safe and healthy as they fly.
We have also advised on employee health screenings—including pre-shift temperature checks and COVID-19 testing—and have implemented a “Ready to Fly” health acknowledgment that all customers must complete prior to flying. These are just a few examples of the many ways we are working with United to ensure the airline provides the safest possible travel experience for all its customers. As with many industries, United’s ability to provide a seamless travel experience is integral to our work at the Cleveland Clinic, since it allows patients to access our care from around the world.
Our long-term relationship with United is a testament to the airline’s commitment to the health and well-being of its customers. We hope that when you choose to fly United, you can do so confidently, knowing your safety comes first.
Tom Mihaljevic, M.D. is the CEO and President of the Cleveland Clinic
