Cleveland Clinic Elevates PGA Tour's Mobile Medical Services with 'Wheels of Wellness'

Each week, the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions benefit from a dedicated fleet of mobile Performance Centers – specially equipped tractor-trailers – that travel to tournament sites, offering essential health and wellness support to professional golfers.

This extensive operation covers over 60 tournaments annually, spanning approximately 24,000 miles across various locations.

In a significant development, the Cleveland Clinic has recently been designated as the official healthcare provider for the PGA Tour's elite professional golfers.

This partnership integrates world-class clinicians and performance specialists into a mobile medical framework that, while operational for over four decades, has now been significantly enhanced. It stands as a groundbreaking initiative, ensuring seamless access to comprehensive medical services vital for optimal player performance.

A golfer's physical well-being is often considered their most crucial asset. Ten-time PGA Tour winner and two-time major champion Xander Schauffele underscored the importance of maintaining this asset.

Schauffele recounted a cautionary tale: "I recall JT having a small mark on his leg that was diagnosed as melanoma. This highlights why players must utilize these on-site services or ensure regular check-ups at home."

Dr. Tom Hospel, the PGA Tour’s Medical Director, reports that his team routinely treats approximately 80% of the players, offering services ranging from physical therapy and chiropractic care to recovery center workouts. This impressive participation rate is expected to increase further with the expanded services.

Dr. Hospel expressed enthusiasm for the players, stating: "I'm thrilled for the athletes. They now have access to world-class medical professionals and facilities. Should any health issue arise, connecting them to the extensive Cleveland Clinic network presents an exceptional advantage. They can leverage not only the direct medical care but also the wealth of additional resources available through this partnership."

This comprehensive support is precisely what professionals like Hank Lebioda, a 10-year touring pro whose father is a retired physician, appreciate.

Lebioda, a former ACC Player of the Year from Florida State, shared his positive experience after making the cut at the Valspar Championship: "I underwent an EKG and a dermatology check-up at the Cognizant Classic. Being outdoors constantly, these services are invaluable. A normal EKG reading alone saved me a trip to a doctor's office, so having this immediate access is truly beneficial."

Dr. Hospel highlighted the Cleveland Clinic's ambition to influence the future of athletic performance by focusing on enhancement, developing long-term health strategies, and leveraging research and data insights to continuously advance player well-being.

A cornerstone of this vision is the new Global Peak Performance Center, slated to open next year in Cleveland along the Cuyahoga River. This expansive 210,000-square-foot facility will provide comprehensive care for both the public and athletes across all levels. It will feature advanced testing, cutting-edge training equipment, and integrated clinical teams specializing in areas such as orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, nutrition, psychology, and genetics.

The Peak Performance Center plans to utilize advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, drawing from extensive data gathered through partnerships like the one with the PGA Tour. This approach aims to deepen the understanding of human performance factors and bolster athletes' physical and mental readiness.

Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic, emphasized: "Our teams are committed to providing integrated, multi-disciplinary, and performance-centric care designed to enhance player longevity, resilience, and recovery. This collaboration enables us to apply cutting-edge insights, elevate health standards across the Tour, and further our joint dedication to empowering individuals to achieve their peak potential, both on and off the golf course."

Dr. Hospel also highlighted another crucial benefit: immediate access to medical records.

"Given that many players are international and travel weekly," Dr. Hospel explained, "a major advantage of this partnership is Cleveland Clinic's use of Epic, an electronic medical record system adopted by approximately 70% of hospital systems. This means players will have access to their test results via an app, and any physician they consult, whether on tour or at home, will also have access, ensuring seamless continuity of care and proactive health management."