CMS Hospital Quality
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Critical Access Hospitals

GRACE COTTAGE HOSPITAL

po box 216, TOWNSHEND, VT 05353

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.

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

Pneumonia Survival
14.8%
Same as national avg

Percentage of pneumonia patients who died within 30 days. Reflects how well the hospital treats serious lung infections.

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

Pneumonia Readmission
16.7%
Same as national avg

Percentage of pneumonia patients readmitted within 30 days. Reflects quality of treatment and discharge instructions.

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 GRACE COTTAGE HOSPITAL, verify it is in your insurance network. Out-of-network care can result in significantly higher costs.

Check Coverage on Healthcare.gov →

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. Last pipeline run: June 2026.