Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Northwest Medical Center
- 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 Northwest Medical Center (opens the hospital's site)
Nearby hospitals
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- 6.4mi Carondelet St Marys Hospital Tucson, AZ · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 56 min Call Carondelet St Marys Hospital Directions to Carondelet St Marys Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Carondelet St Marys Hospital
- 6.4mi University Medical Center Tucson, AZ · Emergency room · median ER visit 5 hr 11 min Call University Medical Center Directions to University Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for University Medical Center
Quick answers about Northwest Medical Center
How long is the ER wait at Northwest Medical Center?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 3 hr 44 min in the Northwest Medical Center emergency room (the average across Arizona hospitals is 2 hr 59 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 (520) 742-9000. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Northwest Medical Center?
The main phone number for Northwest Medical Center is (520) 742-9000, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (520) 742-9000What is the address of Northwest Medical Center?
Northwest Medical Center is at 6200 N La Cholla Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85741.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Northwest Medical Center have an emergency room?
Yes. Northwest Medical Center has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Northwest Medical Center's Medicare star rating?
Northwest Medical Center 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 Northwest Medical Center spend a median of 3 hours 44 minutes there. That is 45 minutes longer than the average across Arizona hospitals (2 hours 59 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 Northwest Medical Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Arizona · How Arizona hospitals rank on star ratings · Other birthing-friendly hospitals in Arizona · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 1,181 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Northwest Medical Center a 1-star patient experience rating out of 5. 48% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 50% 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.
Compare Northwest Medical Center
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Of the 5 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare, Northwest Medical Center was better than the national benchmark on 1 and worse on 0. 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 attack patients | 13.6% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 17.0% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 14.3% | 11.9% |
| COPD patients | 8.0% | 8.6% |
| Coronary bypass (CABG) surgery patients | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| 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 12 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 3.8 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Deaths among surgical patients with serious treatable complicationsper 1,000 patients | 188.06 | 173.3 | Same as national |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 0.55 | 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 | 2.01 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.86 | 1.67 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 4.96 | 9.42 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.02 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.08 | 5.27 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 1.52 | 1.77 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 0.88 | 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 Northwest Medical Center accept?
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 030085). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
2027 Marketplace plans in Arizona that list this hospital
| Insurer | Plans in network | Network | Network tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona | 38 of 43 plans | ACAHEALTHCHOICE, NEIGHBORHOOD | Acahealthchoice |
| Ambetter | 15 of 15 plans | – | Preferred |
| UnitedHealthcare | 14 of 28 plans | – | Non-Preferred |
2027 plan year, individual Marketplace (ACA) plans only.Health insurance in Arizona
Plans that include this hospital: AZ Blue Core Value Bronze, AZ Blue Core Value Silver, AZ Blue Everyday Copay Gold, AZ Blue Everyday Copay Silver, AZ Blue PCP Guided Care Bronze, AZ Blue PCP Guided Care Gold Compare plans
Adults in Arizona qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which Arizona Medicaid plans it takes.
What insurance does Northwest Medical Center accept?
In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Northwest Medical Center is in network for 3 Marketplace insurers in Arizona: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (38 of 43 plans), Ambetter (15 of 15 plans) and UnitedHealthcare (14 of 28 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 Northwest Medical Center take Medicare?
Northwest Medical Center is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 030085), 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 Northwest Medical Center accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona?
Northwest Medical Center is in network for 38 of 43 plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona sells on the Arizona Marketplace in 2027, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Not every Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona plan includes it. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Northwest Medical Center accept Ambetter?
Northwest Medical Center is in network for 15 of 15 plans that Ambetter sells on the Arizona 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 Northwest Medical Center accept UnitedHealthcare?
Northwest Medical Center is in network for 14 of 28 plans that UnitedHealthcare sells on the Arizona Marketplace in 2027, according to UnitedHealthcare's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Not every UnitedHealthcare plan includes it. 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 4 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Northwest Medical Center 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 attack | 15% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 21% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 15.9% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 19% | 20% | Not compared |
| Heart bypass surgery (CABG) | 13.8% | 11% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5.9% | 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. 2 of 6 conditions are above 1.00.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart bypass surgery | 1.033 | 119 | More than expected |
| COPD | 1.029 | 94 | More than expected |
| Heart attack | 0.996 | 279 | Fewer than expected |
| Heart failure | 0.958 | 438 | Fewer than expected |
| Hip or knee replacement | 0.923 | – | Fewer than expected |
| Pneumonia | 0.911 | 364 | 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
Northwest Medical Center'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. 192 patients. | 56% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 49 patients. | 63% | 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. 30 patients. | 60% | 69% |
| Heart attack (STEMI): timely clot-busting or artery-opening careHigher is better. 26 patients. | 0% | 53%* |
| 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. 371 patients. | 224 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 19 patients. | 579 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 11 patients. | 490 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 37,996 patients. | 3% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 3,515 patients. | 42% | 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. 3,317 patients. | 13% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 112 patients. | 98% | 93% |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 161 patients. | 97% | 98%* |
| Stroke: clot prevention started by day 2Higher is better. 156 patients. | 88% | 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 | 31.7 |
| Patient experiencePatient survey results | 6 |
| SafetyHospital-acquired infections | 48.3 |
| 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 Northwest Medical Center
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- <0.1mi Life Care Center of Tucson Tucson, AZ · 162 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 4 of 5 Abuse citation (CMS)
- 0.6mi Casas Adobes Post Acute Rehab Center Tucson, AZ · 230 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5 Abuse citation (CMS)
- 2.2mi La Canada Care Center Tucson, AZ · 128 beds Medicare overall 1 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 2.2mi 032613 Northwest Tucson Dialysis (FMC)Tucson, AZ
- 2.2mi DaVita Northwest Tucson DialysisTucson, AZ
- 3.5mi 032617 Tucson West Dialysis Center (FMC)Tucson, AZ
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 2.0mi Banner Home CareTucson, AZ · 80% would recommend
- 2.2mi Bayada Home Health Care, INCTucson, AZ · 85% would recommend
- 2.2mi a-Z Home Care OptionsTucson, AZ
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 2.0mi Casa De La Luz HospiceTucson, AZ · 87% would recommend
- 2.0mi Anthem EastTucson, AZ Not rated
- 2.2mi Aria Hospice Comfort CareTucson, AZ · 87% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at Northwest Medical Center
342 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 26 specialties.
Find doctors in Tucson
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Tucson, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
What Medicare paid at Northwest Medical Center
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 Arizona.
Hospital stays
| Stay | Stays | Avg billed | Avg payment (Medicare + patient) | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 | 275 | $103,657 | $14,362 | −18% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 155 | $74,582 | $9,664 | −16% |
| Acute myocardial infarction, discharged alive with major complicationsDRG 280 | 83 | $107,757 | $11,929 | −15% |
| Gastrointestinal hemorrhage with complicationsDRG 378 | 68 | $68,722 | $7,568 | −14% |
| Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 | 66 | $72,025 | $9,854 | −16% |
| Esophagitis, gastroenteritis and miscellaneous digestive disorders without major complicationsDRG 392 | 65 | $52,185 | $6,112 | −20% |
| Percutaneous and other intracardiac procedures without major complicationsDRG 274 | 51 | $203,346 | $24,213 | −8% |
| Respiratory infections and inflammations with major complicationsDRG 177 | 50 | $79,233 | $12,377 | −16% |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg billed | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 | 375 | $37,221 | $2,664 |
| Level 4 Urology and Related ServicesAPC 5374 | 234 | $47,700 | $3,383 |
| Level 5 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5115 | 211 | $100,548 | $12,761 |
| Level 1 Endovascular ProceduresAPC 5191 | 192 | $41,883 | $3,159 |
| Level 2 Upper GI ProceduresAPC 5302 | 178 | $17,414 | $1,855 |
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 Arizona hospital finances.
Who owns Northwest Medical Center
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Northwest Hospital LLC, a for-profit organization, incorporated 1998.
662 doctors and other clinicians list Northwest Medical Center 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 Northwest Medical Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Pima are federally designated health professional shortage areas (25 designations). Highest shortage score 20.
Mental health: Parts of Pima are federally designated health professional shortage areas (26 designations). Highest shortage score 19.
Dental: Parts of Pima are federally designated health professional shortage areas (27 designations). Highest shortage score 24.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Arizona earn a median $99,500 a year. Healthcare salaries in Arizona.
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. Arizona shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Arizona
Registered nurses across Arizona (all employers) earned a median of $99,500 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in ArizonaNurse Practitioner salary in ArizonaRespiratory Therapist salary in ArizonaHealthcare salaries in Arizona
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Cite this data
Writing about Northwest Medical Center? 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.