CMS Hospital Quality
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Critical Access Hospitals

SANFORD WHEATON MEDICAL CENTER

401 12TH STREET NORTH, WHEATON, MN 56296

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 SANFORD WHEATON MEDICAL CENTER

Ownership
Voluntary non-profit - Private
Emergency Services
No
CMS Certification Number
241304

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
103 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
0%
▲ 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
88%
▲ Better than US average (74.5%)

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

Concurrent Opioid Prescribing
28%
▼ Worse 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

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 SANFORD WHEATON MEDICAL CENTER, 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 WHEATON and nearby ZIP codes in Minnesota

CENTRACARE - REDWOOD
REDWOOD FALLS, MN 56283
Not rated
ORTONVILLE AREA HEALTH SERVICES
ORTONVILLE, MN 56278
Not rated
OLIVIA HOSPITAL & CLINIC
OLIVIA, MN 56277
★★★★★2/5
STEVENS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER INC
MORRIS, MN 56267
Not rated
CHIPPEWA COUNTY HOSPITAL
MONTEVIDEO, MN 56265
Not rated
AVERA MARSHALL REGIONAL MEDICAL CTR
MARSHALL, MN 56258
Not rated

Other Critical Access Hospitals in Minnesota

76 critical access hospitals in Minnesota report to CMS — top rated shown first

See all 76 critical access hospitals in Minnesota →

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.