CMS Hospital Quality
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IOWA SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - BELMOND

403 FIRST STREET SE, BELMOND, IA 50421

CMS Overall Rating
Not rated
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Critical Access HospitalThis small rural hospital is not required to report all Medicare quality measures. Missing data does not reflect poor quality — it reflects small patient volumes.

About IOWA SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - BELMOND

Ownership
Government - Local
Emergency Services
Yes
CMS Certification Number
161301

Critical Access Hospitals are small rural hospitals with 25 or fewer beds, designed to improve access to healthcare in rural areas. They receive special Medicare reimbursement.

Why doesn't this hospital have a CMS star rating?Critical Access Hospitals are small rural hospitals with low patient volumes. Many do not report enough measures for CMS to calculate a reliable star rating.

Patient Experience (HCAHPS Survey)

Based on standardized surveys sent to random patients after discharge

Mortality & Outcomes

30-day mortality rates — percentage of patients who died within 30 days of admission

Infection Control

Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) — below 1.0 is better than the national benchmark

CLABSI Rate
N/A

Central line-associated bloodstream infection rate. A number below 1.0 means fewer infections than the national average — better than expected.

CAUTI Rate
N/A

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection rate. SIR below 1.0 = better than national benchmark. Important if you'll be in the ICU.

MRSA Rate
N/A

MRSA bloodstream infection rate. MRSA is a drug-resistant bacteria — an SIR below 1.0 means this hospital has fewer cases than expected nationally.

C. diff Rate
N/A

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection rate. This gut bacteria can cause severe diarrhea — SIR below 1.0 is better than the national benchmark.

30-Day Readmission Rates

Lower readmission rates indicate better discharge planning and post-hospital care

Timely & Effective Care

How consistently this hospital follows proven care processes, compared with the US average

ER Median Visit Time
85 min
▲ Better than US average (157.08 min)

Median time patients spent in the emergency department from arrival until they left, excluding patients transferred to another facility or psychiatric patients. Across US hospitals the typical (median) time is about 2.5 hours.

Left Before Seen Rate
1%
▲ Better than US average (1.68%)

Percentage of ER patients who left before being evaluated by a provider. Lower is better — a high rate suggests the ER is overcrowded or understaffed.

Staff Flu Vaccination Rate
72%
▼ Worse than US average (74.5%)

Percentage of healthcare workers who received the influenza vaccine. Vaccinated staff protect vulnerable patients from flu transmission during hospitalization.

Blood Clot Prevention Rate
91%
▲ Better than US average (82.18%)

Percentage of inpatients who received recommended blood clot prevention (VTE prophylaxis). Blood clots in hospitalized patients are one of the most common preventable causes of death.

Concurrent Opioid Prescribing
7%
▲ Better than US average (15.02%)

Percentage of patients discharged with prescriptions for two or more opioids, or an opioid plus a benzodiazepine, at the same time. Lower is better — combining these drugs raises the risk of overdose.

Medicare Payment Estimates

What Medicare pays this hospital for common procedures vs the national average

Payment for pneumonia patients
$22,585
≈ Same as national avg
27 cases

Medicare payment amounts are risk-adjusted averages. Actual patient costs depend on insurance plan, deductibles, and other factors.

Check Your Insurance Coverage

Before scheduling care at IOWA SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - BELMOND, verify it is in your insurance network. Out-of-network care can result in significantly higher costs.

Check Coverage on Healthcare.gov →

Nearby Hospitals

Other hospitals in BELMOND and nearby ZIP codes in Iowa

HANCOCK COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM
BRITT, IA 50423
Not rated
MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER
MASON CITY, IA 50401
★★★★★2/5
FRANKLIN GENERAL HOSPITAL
HAMPTON, IA 50441
Not rated
MITCHELL COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH
OSAGE, IA 50461
★★★★★3/5
TRINITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
FORT DODGE, IA 50501
★★★★★2/5
KOSSUTH REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER
ALGONA, IA 50511
★★★★★1/5

Other Critical Access Hospitals in Iowa

82 critical access hospitals in Iowa report to CMS — top rated shown first

See all 82 critical access hospitals in Iowa →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH)?▼
Critical Access Hospitals are small rural hospitals with 25 or fewer inpatient beds, located more than 35 miles from the nearest hospital. They receive special Medicare funding to keep rural healthcare accessible.
Why doesn't this hospital have a star rating?▼
Critical Access Hospitals are exempt from CMS star ratings because their small patient volumes make statistical comparisons unreliable. This is not a reflection of quality.
Are Critical Access Hospitals safe?▼
CAHs meet federal safety standards and are regularly inspected. For complex procedures, they often transfer patients to larger facilities — which is the right call for patient safety.
Why is some clinical data missing?▼
CAHs report fewer measures to CMS because their patient volumes are too small to produce statistically valid results. Missing data does not mean poor quality.
Should I travel to a larger hospital instead?▼
For emergencies, go to the nearest hospital. For planned procedures like joint replacement or cancer surgery, discuss with your doctor whether the procedure volume at a larger hospital would be beneficial.

Data source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (data.cms.gov). Updated quarterly. CMS data loaded: June 2026.