MetroHealth ranks among nation's most socially responsible hospitals

By the numbers: Metro ranks 36th out of more than 2,700 hospital systems nationwide, earning "A" grades across the three main categories surveyed.

• Only East Liverpool City Hospital ranks higher in Ohio.

Zoom in: It's No. 1 statewide in two categories: "community benefit" and "avoiding overuse."

• The first metric measures a hospital's spending on financial assistance, Medicaid revenue and community programs.
• The second measures its ability to avoid tests and procedures that offer little or no clinical benefit.

What they're saying: "No other hospital in America has a more dedicated and passionate staff of caregivers," said MetroHealth president and CEO Christine Alexander-Rager in a statement.

• "This recognition is a direct result of their devotion to our community."

The other side: Cleveland Clinic, long pinged for its lack of community spending, ranks in the middle of the pack statewide and nationally across social responsibility metrics.

Yes, but: While the Clinic earns top marks for its value and outcomes, it still trails in equity rankings.

• In the pay equity category, which measures disparities in compensation between executives and workers without advanced degrees, the Clinic is among the worst in the nation.