The Alice L. Walton Foundation, Mercy, and Heartland Whole Health Institute have announced a landmark 30-year, $700 million agreement to revolutionize health care in the Heartland. This collaboration will expand access to specialized care, reduce health care costs and improve outcomes, with Cleveland Clinic providing cardiovascular expertise.
Mercy is investing $350 million to build a new cardiac care center in Rogers and enhance physician recruitment. The Alice L. Walton Foundation is matching this with another $350 million to establish an outpatient specialty center in Bentonville. These investments aim to turn Northwest Arkansas into a premier health care destination.
Philanthropist Alice Walton emphasized the importance of accessible, whole-health care, saying, “This powerful collaboration with Mercy and Cleveland Clinic will change the health care landscape in the Heartland, bringing together organizations that are dedicated to increasing quality, reducing costs and making accessible, value-based care a reality.”
Cleveland Clinic will co-brand the cardiovascular center and bring its renowned expertise to the region, ensuring top-tier patient care.
Mercy President and CEO Steve Mackin highlighted the partnership’s potential to innovate care models, reduce costs and increase health care quality for residents across the 20-state Heartland region.
This initiative also addresses the outflow of patients seeking specialty care outside the region, which currently costs Northwest Arkansas an estimated $950 million annually. With expanded cardiac services, advanced telehealth and preventative care models, the collaboration aims to attract new physicians and patients to the region.
The partnership will position Northwest Arkansas as a health care leader, providing a comprehensive range of services and making whole-health care accessible to a broader population.
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