Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Helen Keller Memorial Hospital
Sheffield, AL 35660
County: Colbert Directions Apple Maps Call (256) 386-4196
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Official links: Website for Helen Keller Memorial Hospital (opens the hospital's site)
Nearby hospitals
- 1.4mi Shoals Hospital Muscle Shoals, AL · Emergency room · median ER visit 1 hr 43 min Call Shoals Hospital Directions to Shoals Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Shoals Hospital
- 3.5mi North Alabama Medical Center Florence, AL · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 27 min Call North Alabama Medical Center Directions to North Alabama Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for North Alabama Medical Center
- 16mi Russellville Hospital Russellville, AL · Emergency room · median ER visit 1 hr 41 min Call Russellville Hospital Directions to Russellville Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Russellville Hospital
Quick answers about Helen Keller Memorial Hospital
How long is the ER wait at Helen Keller Memorial Hospital?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 3 hr 8 min in the Helen Keller Memorial Hospital emergency room (the average across Alabama hospitals is 2 hr 34 min). 3% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (256) 386-4196. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Helen Keller Memorial Hospital?
The main phone number for Helen Keller Memorial Hospital is (256) 386-4196, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (256) 386-4196What is the address of Helen Keller Memorial Hospital?
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital is at 1300 S Montgomery Ave, Sheffield, AL 35660.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Helen Keller Memorial Hospital have an emergency room?
Yes. Helen Keller Memorial Hospital has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Helen Keller Memorial Hospital's Medicare star rating?
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital has an overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Star ratings come from CMS quality and safety measures, not patient reviews.
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Helen Keller Memorial Hospital spend a median of 3 hours 8 minutes there. That is 34 minutes longer than the average across Alabama hospitals (2 hours 34 minutes).
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with Helen Keller Memorial Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Alabama · How Alabama hospitals rank on star ratings · Other birthing-friendly hospitals in Alabama · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 425 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Helen Keller Memorial Hospital a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 80% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 76% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.
The patient survey (HCAHPS) asks a random sample of adult patients about their recent hospital stay. CMS adjusts the results for the mix of patients and how the survey was done, so hospitals can be compared fairly. About the data.
Nearby ERs with shorter visits
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital was no different from the national benchmark on all 5 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare. Its rate of serious complications was same as national.
Hospital-acquired infections
Serious complications
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart failure patients | 17.8% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 14.6% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 21.9% | 11.9% |
| COPD patients | 8.8% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 5.2% | 3.9% |
Risk-adjusted rates. CMS has not published a statistical better/worse comparison for these death rates in the current release, so small differences from the U.S. rate may be chance.
Other complications
None of the other safety indicators CMS compares was statistically better or worse than national.
All 8 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 5.6 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 0.31 | 0.63 | Same as national |
| Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients | 0.29 | 0.27 | Same as national |
| Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients | 0.19 | 0.21 | Same as national |
| Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 2.83 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.93 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 2.02 | 1.77 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 0.94 | 1.06 | Same as national |
"Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national benchmark statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Infection results compare the infections a hospital reported with the number predicted for a hospital of its size and type (a ratio below 1 means fewer than predicted), for Oct 2024 – Sep 2025. Death and complication rates are risk-adjusted for how sick patients were. Each death rate counts deaths within 30 days of a hospital stay, pooled over one to three years of Medicare patients depending on the measure. About the data.
What insurance does Helen Keller Memorial Hospital accept?
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 010019). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
2027 Marketplace plans in Alabama that list this hospital
| Insurer | Plans in network | Network | Network tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambetter | 19 of 19 plans | – | Preferred |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama | 18 of 23 plans | TIER-ONE | Tier-One |
| UnitedHealthcare | 16 of 16 plans | – | Non-Preferred |
| Oscar | 9 of 9 plans | – | Preferred |
2027 plan year, individual Marketplace (ACA) plans only.Health insurance in Alabama
Plans that include this hospital: Blue Cross Select Gold, Blue Cross Select Silver Compare plans
What insurance does Helen Keller Memorial Hospital accept?
In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Helen Keller Memorial Hospital is in network for 4 Marketplace insurers in Alabama: Ambetter (19 of 19 plans), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (18 of 23 plans), UnitedHealthcare (16 of 16 plans) and 1 other insurer. This covers Marketplace (ACA) plans only, not Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or employer plans. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Helen Keller Memorial Hospital take Medicare?
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 010019), according to CMS hospital data. Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this page does not cover; check with your plan before you get care.
Does Helen Keller Memorial Hospital accept Ambetter?
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital is in network for 19 of 19 plans that Ambetter sells on the Alabama Marketplace in 2027, according to Ambetter's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Helen Keller Memorial Hospital accept Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama?
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital is in network for 18 of 23 plans that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama sells on the Alabama Marketplace in 2027, according to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Not every Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama plan includes it. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Helen Keller Memorial Hospital accept UnitedHealthcare?
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital is in network for 16 of 16 plans that UnitedHealthcare sells on the Alabama Marketplace in 2027, according to UnitedHealthcare's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Source: the insurers' 2027 machine-readable provider files listed in the CMS Marketplace public use files, loaded November 4, 2026, matched to hospitals by NPI from CMS Hospital Enrollments. How we match networks to hospitals Networks change; confirm with your insurer before you go.
Readmissions and return visits
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Medicare patients · Jul 2023 – Jun 2025
On the 2 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Helen Keller Memorial Hospital was no different from the national rate or its expected level.
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart failure | 20.6% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 17.4% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20.6% | 20% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 7.3% | 5.8% | Not compared |
Return trips after a stay or procedure
Medicare's readmission program
Excess readmission ratio: this hospital's predicted readmissions divided by the number expected for a typical hospital with the same patients. Above 1.00 means more readmissions than expected. 3 of 4 conditions are above 1.00.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | 1.217 | – | More than expected |
| COPD | 1.033 | 169 | More than expected |
| Pneumonia | 1.006 | 235 | More than expected |
| Heart failure | 0.906 | 255 | Fewer than expected |
Readmission rates count Medicare patients who were admitted to any acute-care hospital within 30 days of leaving this one, adjusted for how sick they were. "Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national rate statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Return-day and outpatient-surgery measures compare the hospital with what CMS expected for its own patients. The Readmissions Reduction Program ratios are shown as CMS publishes them; whether a hospital's payments are reduced depends on how its ratios compare with similar hospitals, so a ratio above 1.00 alone doesn't mean a penalty. About the data.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Helen Keller Memorial Hospital's emergency department is classed by CMS as medium volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S.* |
|---|---|---|
| Sepsis: got all recommended early treatmentPatients with severe sepsis or septic shock who received every step of the recommended early care bundle. Higher is better. 509 patients. | 60% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 186 patients. | 70% | 73% |
| Stroke: brain scan read within 45 minutes of ER arrivalPatients arriving with stroke symptoms whose head CT or MRI was interpreted within 45 minutes. Higher is better. 16 patients. | 75% | 69% |
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 356 patients. | 188 min | 162 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 34,390 patients. | 3% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,957 patients. | 66% | 78% |
| Discharged on two opioids, or an opioid and a benzodiazepinePatients sent home with prescriptions that raise the risk of overdose when combined. Lower is better. 1,602 patients. | 14% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 69 patients. | 96% | 93% |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 32 patients. | 88% | 98%* |
| Stroke: clot prevention started by day 2Higher is better. 34 patients. | 85% | 94%* |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. *Median of all hospitals CMS reports, where CMS publishes no national figure. About the data.
Maternity care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · reported by the hospital · Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
Maternity measures are reported by hospitals that deliver babies. The U.S. figure is the median of the hospitals CMS reports, not a CMS verdict. About the data.
Medicare spending and payment programs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Value-based purchasing scores by area
| Area | Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| Clinical outcomesDeath rates and complications | 0 |
| Patient experiencePatient survey results | 65 |
| SafetyHospital-acquired infections | 68.3 |
| Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient | 0 |
The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program cuts Medicare payments by 1% for the quarter of hospitals with the worst scores. The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program withholds a small share of every hospital's Medicare payments and pays it back according to the total performance score. A spending ratio of 1.00 equals the national median; spending reflects prices, the services patients received and care after discharge, not quality. Some hospitals, such as critical access, children's and cancer hospitals, are not part of these programs. About the data.
Care after a stay at Helen Keller Memorial Hospital
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.4mi Keller Landing Tuscumbia, AL · 109 beds Medicare overall 5 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 4 of 5
- 1.8mi Cottage of the Shoals Tuscumbia, AL · 103 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 1 of 5
- 3.5mi Cypress Cove Care Center Muscle Shoals, AL · 90 beds Medicare overall 5 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 0.9mi DaVita Sheffield DialysisSheffield, AL
- 5.9mi DaVita Florence DialysisFlorence, AL
- 5.9mi DaVita Renaissance DialysisFlorence, AL
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 5.9mi Amedisys Home Health of FlorenceFlorence, AL · 93% would recommend
- 5.9mi Preferred Home HealthFlorence, AL · 93% would recommend
- 17mi Northwest Home HealthRussellville, AL
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 5.9mi Preferred HospiceFlorence, AL · 96% would recommend
- 5.9mi Amedisys Hospice of FlorenceFlorence, AL · 85% would recommend Not rated
- 6.2mi Alabama Hospice of the ShoalsTuscumbia, AL · 89% would recommend Not rated
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at Helen Keller Memorial Hospital
191 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 26 specialties.
Find doctors in Sheffield
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Sheffield, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
What Medicare paid at Helen Keller Memorial Hospital
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · original Medicare patients · 2024
Average hospital charges and actual payments for the procedures Medicare patients most often had here, compared with the average for Alabama.
Hospital stays
| Stay | Stays | Avg billed | Avg payment (Medicare + patient) | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 | 94 | $42,241 | $12,551 | −14% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 80 | $26,915 | $8,442 | −16% |
| Kidney and urinary tract infections without major complicationsDRG 690 | 61 | $18,200 | $5,703 | −17% |
| Esophagitis, gastroenteritis and miscellaneous digestive disorders without major complicationsDRG 392 | 47 | $22,065 | $5,452 | −21% |
| Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 | 41 | $31,307 | $8,559 | −15% |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with major complicationsDRG 190 | 39 | $27,258 | $7,342 | −15% |
| Miscellaneous disorders of nutrition, metabolism, fluids and electrolytes without major complicationsDRG 641 | 38 | $18,409 | $5,407 | −19% |
| Kidney and urinary tract infections with major complicationsDRG 689 | 37 | $29,492 | $7,903 | −12% |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg billed | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 | 154 | $12,811 | $2,208 |
| Level 1 Intraocular ProceduresAPC 5491 | 136 | $5,336 | $1,842 |
| Level 5 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5115 | 91 | $25,913 | $10,568 |
| Level 5 Urology and Related ServicesAPC 5375 | 71 | $8,975 | $4,048 |
| Level 2 Upper GI ProceduresAPC 5302 | 67 | $6,747 | $1,540 |
Charges are the hospital's list prices; payments are what Medicare, the patient and any other insurer actually paid (for outpatient services, Medicare's allowed amount). Private insurance prices differ. "vs state" compares this hospital's average payment with the state average for the same stay. All procedure costs.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Sep 2024
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare Alabama hospital finances.
Who owns Helen Keller Memorial Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Hh Health System - Shoals, LLC, a non-profit organization, incorporated 2014.
355 doctors and other clinicians list Helen Keller Memorial Hospital as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
Non-profit finances
IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Sep 2023 · Helen Keller Hospital Foundation Inc (EIN 63-1275219)
As filed with the IRS by Helen Keller Hospital Foundation Inc. Matched by name and address, so check the filing to confirm it's the right organization. See the full Form 990 filings · Non-profit hospital finances.
The area around Helen Keller Memorial Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Colbert are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 17.
Mental health: Colbert is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 12.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Alabama earn a median $77,080 a year. Healthcare salaries in Alabama.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. Alabama shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Alabama
Registered nurses across Alabama (all employers) earned a median of $77,080 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in AlabamaNurse Practitioner salary in AlabamaRespiratory Therapist salary in AlabamaHealthcare salaries in Alabama
Add this rating badge to your website
The badge updates automatically when CMS publishes new ratings. The compact and footer-strip sizes fit site footers and sidebars. All badge sizes and help.
Cite this data
Writing about Helen Keller Memorial Hospital? You're welcome to quote these figures. They are free to use under CC BY 4.0: please credit HospitalsInEachState.com and link to this page.