facebook tracking Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks, AK: ER Visit 2h 52m

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks, AK

1650 Cowles St, Fairbanks, AK 99701Fairbanks North Star County

Acute care hospital 122 beds (Medicare cost report FY2024) Emergency room

Independent directory · data from CMS, not from this hospital

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is a non-profit acute care hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska, with an emergency department. According to HospitalsInEachState.com's analysis of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 2 hr 52 min in its emergency department, 37 min longer than the average across Alaska hospitals (2 hr 15 min). Medicare rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, and patients give it 3 out of 5 in the Medicare patient survey. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is in network for at least one 2027 Marketplace plan from 2 insurers in Alaska, according to the insurers' network files loaded November 4, 2026.

Visiting Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

Address 1650 Cowles St
Fairbanks, AK 99701
County: Fairbanks North Star
Directions Apple Maps Call (907) 452-8181
Emergency room Yes. For patients treated and sent home, the median ER visit here lasts 2 hr 52 min (average across AK hospitals: 2 hr 15 min). Medicare's median time in the ER for patients treated and sent home; not a live wait. ER times across AK
What to bring
  • 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
Visiting hours and parking vary: call ahead.

Official links: Website for Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (opens the hospital's site)

Quick answers about Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

How long is the ER wait at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital?

CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 2 hr 52 min in the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital emergency room (the average across Alaska hospitals is 2 hr 15 min). 1% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (907) 452-8181. In an emergency, call 911.

What is the phone number for Fairbanks Memorial Hospital?

The main phone number for Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is (907) 452-8181, from Medicare's hospital records.

Call (907) 452-8181
What is the address of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital?

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is at 1650 Cowles St, Fairbanks, AK 99701.

Directions (opens Google Maps)
Does Fairbanks Memorial Hospital have an emergency room?

Yes. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.

What is Fairbanks Memorial Hospital's Medicare star rating?

Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital spend a median of 2 hours 52 minutes there. That is 37 minutes longer than the average across Alaska hospitals (2 hours 15 minutes).

CMS rating ★★★★★ 2/5
Left before seen 1%
ER volume medium
Type Acute Care
Ownership Non-profit
Maternity Birthing-friendly

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 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Compare ER waits across Alaska · How Alaska hospitals rank on star ratings · Other birthing-friendly hospitals in Alaska · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us

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What patients say

CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 445 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025

Patients gave Fairbanks Memorial Hospital a 3-star patient experience rating out of 5. 68% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 69% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.

Patient star rating ★★★★★ 3 out of 5
Would definitely recommend 68% U.S. 71% · AK 74%
Rated 9 or 10 of 10 69% U.S. 72% · AK 72%
Survey response rate 14% of patients surveyed
Nurse communicationDid nurses treat you with courtesy and respect, listen carefully and explain things clearly?
★★★★★
76% always · 4% sometimes or never · U.S. 80% always
Doctor communicationDid doctors treat you with courtesy and respect, listen carefully and explain things clearly?
★★★★★
76% always · 5% sometimes or never · U.S. 80% always
Communication about medicinesBefore giving you a new medicine, did staff tell you what it was for and its possible side effects?
★★★★★
55% always · 25% sometimes or never · U.S. 62% always
Discharge informationDid staff talk with you about help you would need at home and symptoms to watch for?
★★★★★
85% yes · 15% no · U.S. 86% yes
CleanlinessHow often were your room and bathroom kept clean?
★★★★★
74% always · 7% sometimes or never · U.S. 74% always
Quiet at nightHow often was the area around your room quiet at night?
★★★★★
51% always · 11% sometimes or never · U.S. 60% always
Overall hospital ratingUsing any number from 0 to 10, what number would you use to rate this hospital?
★★★★★
69% 9 or 10 · 7% 6 or lower · U.S. 72% 9 or 10
Would recommendWould you recommend this hospital to your friends and family?
★★★★★
68% definitely yes · 3% no · U.S. 71% definitely yes

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.

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Infections, complications and deaths

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital was no different from the national benchmark on all 3 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare. Its rate of serious complications was same as national.

Hospital-acquired infections

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)Urinary tract infections in patients with a urinary catheter, in ICUs and select wards.
Same as national 0 infections vs 2.4 predicted · ratio 0.00
Surgical site infections after colon surgeryInfections at the surgery site after colon surgery.
Same as national 3 infections vs 1.6 predicted · ratio 1.88
C. diff intestinal infectionsClostridioides difficile infections, a bacteria that causes severe diarrhea, often after antibiotics.
Same as national 8 infections vs 13.5 predicted · ratio 0.59

Serious complications

Serious complications (CMS PSI 90)Combines patient safety problems such as falls with fractures, bed sores, collapsed lungs, blood clots and infections after surgery. 1.00 is the national value; lower is better.
Same as national Ratio 0.97

Death rates within 30 days

Patients treated forThis hospitalU.S.
Heart attack patients 11.6% 11.9%
Heart failure patients 15.7% 11.1%
Pneumonia patients 18.7% 15.2%
Stroke patients 9.1% 11.9%
COPD patients 12.0% 8.6%
Hospital-wide, all conditions 4.1% 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 10 complication measures
MeasureThis hospitalU.S.CMS comparison
Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients 0.36 0.63 Same as national
Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients 0.25 0.27 Same as national
Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients 0.36 0.21 Same as national
Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients 2.72 2.34 Same as national
Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients 1.58 1.67 Same as national
Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients 7.89 9.42 Same as national
Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients 4.3 3.52 Same as national
Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients 5.75 5.27 Same as national
Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients 2.35 1.77 Same as national
Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients 1.24 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 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital accept?

Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 020012). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.

2027 Marketplace plans in Alaska that list this hospital

Marketplace insurers whose 2027 plan networks in Alaska list Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, most plans in network first
InsurerPlans in networkNetworkNetwork tier
Premera Blue Cross 9 of 9 plans DENTALSELECT, LEGACYANDDENTALSELECT Legacyanddentalselect
Moda Health Plan, Inc. 4 of 4 plans – Preferred

2027 plan year, individual Marketplace (ACA) plans only.Health insurance in Alaska

Adults in Alaska qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which Alaska Medicaid plans it takes.

Is Fairbanks Memorial Hospital in your plan?

For HealthCare.gov Marketplace plans (2027). Enter your ZIP code, then pick your insurer and plan. We only use your ZIP code to find plans; we don't save it.

Live from HealthCare.gov's Marketplace provider data, as reported by insurers. Networks change: confirm with your insurer before you get care. Not affiliated with HealthCare.gov or CMS.

What insurance does Fairbanks Memorial Hospital accept?

In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is in network for 2 Marketplace insurers in Alaska: Premera Blue Cross (9 of 9 plans) and Moda Health Plan, Inc. (4 of 4 plans). 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 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital take Medicare?

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 020012), 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 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital accept Premera Blue Cross?

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is in network for 9 of 9 plans that Premera Blue Cross sells on the Alaska Marketplace in 2027, according to Premera Blue Cross'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 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital accept Moda Health Plan, Inc.?

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is in network for 4 of 4 plans that Moda Health Plan, Inc. sells on the Alaska Marketplace in 2027, according to Moda Health Plan, Inc.'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

Of the 4 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital was better on 0 and worse on 1 (than the national rate, or than expected for its patients).

Back in the hospital within 30 days

After a stay forThis hospitalU.S.CMS comparison
Heart attack 14.9% 14.4% Not compared
Heart failure 21.4% 21.3% Not compared
Pneumonia 17.3% 17.3% Not compared
COPD (chronic lung disease) 18.7% 20% Not compared

Return trips after a stay or procedure

Extra days back in hospital after heart attackDays spent back in the ER, under observation or readmitted within 30 days, per 100 discharges, compared with what was expected.
Not compared +43.3 days per 100 discharges vs expected · U.S. +4.2
Extra days back in hospital after heart failureDays spent back in the ER, under observation or readmitted within 30 days, per 100 discharges, compared with what was expected.
Not compared -24.5 days per 100 discharges vs expected · U.S. +1.3
Extra days back in hospital after pneumoniaDays spent back in the ER, under observation or readmitted within 30 days, per 100 discharges, compared with what was expected.
Not compared -16 days per 100 discharges vs expected · U.S. +3.9
Hospital visits within 7 days of an outpatient colonoscopyUnplanned hospital visits per 1,000 colonoscopies.
Same as national 13.8 per 1,000 procedures · U.S. 13
Chemotherapy patients admitted to hospitalInpatient admissions within 30 days of outpatient chemotherapy, per 100 patients.
Same as national 9.9 per 100 patients · U.S. 10.7
Chemotherapy patients visiting the ERER visits within 30 days of outpatient chemotherapy, per 100 patients.
Same as national 5 per 100 patients · U.S. 5.4
Hospital visits after outpatient surgeryUnplanned visits within 7 days of same-day surgery, as a ratio to the number expected (1.00 = expected).
Worse than expected 1.40 1.00 = expected · U.S. 1.00

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. 2 of 5 conditions are above 1.00.

ConditionRatioPatientsReadmissions
Hip or knee replacement 1.033 – More than expected
Heart attack 1.016 – More than expected
Pneumonia 0.981 154 Fewer than expected
COPD 0.938 – Fewer than expected
Heart failure 0.894 144 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

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital's emergency department is classed by CMS as medium volume.

MeasureThis hospitalU.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. 181 patients. 57% 65%
Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 67 patients. 57% 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. 20 patients. 70% 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. 335 patients. 172 min 162 min
Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 45 patients. 245 min 257 min
Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 36,824 patients. 1% 2%
Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,641 patients. 92% 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. 888 patients. 10% 15%
Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 99 patients. 92% 93%
Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 79 patients. 97% 98%*
Stroke: clot prevention started by day 2Higher is better. 49 patients. 100% 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 safety practices (CMS SM-7)Whether the hospital reports taking part in a state or national perinatal quality program and following its patient-safety practices.
Yes

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

Hospital-acquired conditions · FY 2026
1% payment cut
Ranked in the worst-performing quarter of hospitals on infections and patient-safety problems, so Medicare cut its payments by 1% for the year. 719 of 3,012 hospitals were penalized.
Value-based purchasing · FY 2026
36.8 / 100
Total performance score; the median hospital scored 29.5. Medicare raises or lowers each hospital's payments based on this score.
Medicare spending per patient
0.79
21% less than the national median per hospital stay (about $21,659 vs $27,417), counting Medicare spending from 3 days before admission to 30 days after discharge.

Value-based purchasing scores by area

AreaScore (out of 100)
Clinical outcomesDeath rates and complications2
Patient experiencePatient survey results30
SafetyHospital-acquired infections15
Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient100

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 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.

Skilled nursing facilities nearby

  • <0.1mi Denali Center Fairbanks, AK · 71 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5 · Located in a hospital

Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State

Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

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Doctors at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

182 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 28 specialties.

See all 182 clinicians

Find doctors in Fairbanks

Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Fairbanks, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.

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What Medicare paid at Fairbanks 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 Alaska.

Hospital stays

StayStaysAvg billedAvg payment (Medicare + patient)vs state
PsychosesDRG 885 102 $89,059 $27,349 +8%
Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 96 $86,759 $33,271 +33%
Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 48 $53,799 $20,532 +26%
Respiratory infections and inflammations with major complicationsDRG 177 37 $70,801 $29,825 +35%
Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours without major complicationsDRG 872 37 $60,424 $17,829 +37%
Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 35 $45,179 $20,958 +24%
Hip and femur procedures except major joint with complicationsDRG 481 29 $93,225 $33,038 +29%
Extracranial procedures without complicationsDRG 039 27 $43,097 $19,557 +7%

Outpatient services

ServiceServicesAvg billedAvg allowed
Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 276 $22,038 $2,973
Level 1 Intraocular ProceduresAPC 5491 275 $8,526 $2,535
Level 2 Excision/Biopsy/Incision and DrainageAPC 5072 121 $5,926 $1,747
Level 5 Urology and Related ServicesAPC 5375 94 $17,466 $5,615
Level 4 Urology and Related ServicesAPC 5374 85 $15,859 $3,760

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 Dec 2024

Beds
122
Reported to Medicare, FY2024
Employees
1,323
Full-time equivalent
Discharges
6,266
Inpatient stays a year
Patient revenue
$291.1 million
Net of discounts
Operating margin
-20.9%
On patient care
Charity care
$2.0 million
0.6% of expenses
Bad debt
$20.3 million
Unpaid patient bills

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 Alaska hospital finances.

Who owns Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)

Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Fairbanks Memorial Hospital LLC, a non-profit organization.

Foundation Health LLC Owns 5% or more directly · 100% · since 2017 Non-profit
Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation Inc Owns 5% or more indirectly · 100% · since 2022 Non-profit

366 doctors and other clinicians list Fairbanks 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.

The area around Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data

Primary care: Parts of Fairbanks North Star are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.

Mental health: Fairbanks North Star is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 16.

Dental: Fairbanks North Star is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 16.

Nurse pay: registered nurses in Alaska earn a median $109,480 a year. Healthcare salaries in Alaska.

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. Alaska shortage areas

Healthcare pay in Alaska

Registered nurses across Alaska (all employers) earned a median of $109,480 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in AlaskaNurse Practitioner salary in AlaskaMedical Assistant salary in AlaskaHealthcare salaries in Alaska

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Cite this data

Writing about Fairbanks 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.

Figures as of the July 2026 CMS release Updated automatically when CMS publishes new data Permanent link: hospitalsineachstate.com/hospitals/alaska/fairbanks/fairbanks-memorial-hospital/1650-cowles-st/

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