Both Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern Memorial Hospital are leading medical institutions with strengths in various areas. Cleveland Clinic offers a wider range of specialties and more developed telehealth services, while Northwestern Memorial stands out for its high patient recommendation rate. Patient experience considerations, such as wait times and communication, should be taken into account when making a decision.
| Attribute | Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio) | Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago, Illinois) |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Areas Offered | Cardiology and Heart & Vascular Surgery, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Urology, Ophthalmology, Rheumatology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Cancer, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, Ear, Nose & Throat, Orthopedics, Bariatric & Metabolic, Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, Emergency Services, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Genomics, Head & Neck, Imaging, Speech Therapy | Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, Urology, Cancer, Ear, Nose and Throat, Orthopaedics |
| Hospital Ranking | #1 in Ohio and Cleveland metro area; Ranked among the top hospitals in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report; On the 'Best Hospitals' Honor Roll for the 35th consecutive year (2025-2026); Ranked third for cardiology and heart and vascular surgery in the U.S. | #1 in Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area for 14 consecutive years. Named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll by U.S. News & World Report. |
| Patient Satisfaction Scores | 4 out of 5 stars patient experience rating (as of August 7, 2025); Recognized with the Outstanding Patient Experience Award by Healthgrades; 100% satisfaction in 5 labor & delivery metrics (July 2024); 23% growth in patient satisfaction for pain management during labor | 70% gave a 'superior' overall rating. Recommendation rate is 14% higher than the state average. Recognized by Healthgrades with the Outstanding Patient Experience Award. |
| Availability of Clinical Trials | Conducts numerous clinical trials covering a wide range of conditions, including heart failure, cancer, and mental health disorders; Completed more than 8,000 clinical trials; Cancer clinical trials test various treatments like new drugs, surgical techniques, and radiation therapy | Offers access to leading-edge clinical trials, including cancer research at the Lurie Cancer Center and trials for conditions like COVID-19 and rheumatoid arthritis. |
| Technology and Equipment Used | Robotic surgery; Fully integrated digital health records | Utilizes cutting-edge medical technologies and innovative treatment protocols, including robotic surgery and stem cell therapy. Hoefer Welker provides medical equipment planning and technology consulting services. |
| Insurance Acceptance | Accepts a wide variety of insurance plans, including group health plans nationally and some exchange health plans. Confirm specific plan acceptance with the clinic or insurance provider. | Participates in a variety of insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Anthem, Blue Choice Preferred PPOSM plans, Medicare Advantage HMO plans, and Medicare supplement plans from major carriers. |
| Average Wait Times for Appointments | Offers virtual primary care appointments, often with next-day availability; Some reviewers mention long wait times for appointments, particularly in specialized departments like Functional Medicine | ER wait time can be 10 hours or more, according to some reviews. |
| Location and Accessibility | Main campus located at 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio; Three Cleveland Clinic hospitals earned the top three spots in the Cleveland metro area | Located at 251 E. Huron Street in downtown Chicago. The downtown medical campus includes multiple pavilions and facilities. |
| Physician Qualifications and Experience | Employs a large team of salaried physicians and scientists who are leaders in their fields | Features a renowned staff of physicians and surgeons, many of whom hold faculty appointments with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. |
| Availability of Telehealth Services | Offers extensive telehealth services, including Express Care Virtual Visits for common healthcare concerns; Virtual visits are available for patients in Ohio and Florida; Rapidly scaled their telehealth program during the COVID-19 pandemic | N/A |
| Language Support Services | Provides language interpreters at no charge to patients and their companions, available 24/7 at all locations; Employs Healthcare Interpreter/Global Patient Services Coordinators | Provides interpretation services, including qualified sign language interpreters and information written in other languages. |
| Out-of-Pocket Expenses | Include co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles; Implementing a policy to collect co-pays before or at check-in for non-emergency outpatient services; Payment plans may be available for those unable to pay their co-pay at the time of service | Depend on the specific insurance plan. |