facebook tracking Ouachita County Medical Center, Camden, AR: ER Visit 2h 22m

Ouachita County Medical Center, Camden, AR

638 California Ave SW, Camden, AR 71701Ouachita County

Acute care hospital 50 beds (Medicare cost report FY2024) Emergency room

Independent directory · data from CMS, not from this hospital

Ouachita County Medical Center is a non-profit acute care hospital in Camden, Arkansas, 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 22 min in its emergency department, about the same as the average across Arkansas hospitals (2 hr 19 min). Medicare rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall. Ouachita County Medical Center is in network for at least one 2027 Marketplace plan from 4 insurers in Arkansas, according to the insurers' network files loaded November 4, 2026.

Visiting Ouachita County Medical Center

Address 638 California Ave SW
Camden, AR 71701
County: Ouachita
Directions Apple Maps Call (870) 836-1000
Emergency room Yes. For patients treated and sent home, the median ER visit here lasts 2 hr 22 min (average across AR hospitals: 2 hr 19 min). Medicare's median time in the ER for patients treated and sent home; not a live wait. ER times across AR
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 Ouachita County Medical Center (opens the hospital's site)

Quick answers about Ouachita County Medical Center

How long is the ER wait at Ouachita County Medical Center?

CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 2 hr 22 min in the Ouachita County Medical Center emergency room (the average across Arkansas hospitals is 2 hr 19 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 (870) 836-1000. In an emergency, call 911.

What is the phone number for Ouachita County Medical Center?

The main phone number for Ouachita County Medical Center is (870) 836-1000, from Medicare's hospital records.

Call (870) 836-1000
What is the address of Ouachita County Medical Center?

Ouachita County Medical Center is at 638 California Ave SW, Camden, AR 71701.

Directions (opens Google Maps)
Does Ouachita County Medical Center have an emergency room?

Yes. Ouachita County Medical Center has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.

What is Ouachita County Medical Center's Medicare star rating?

Ouachita County 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 Ouachita County Medical Center spend a median of 2 hours 22 minutes there. That is about the same as the average across Arkansas hospitals (2 hours 19 minutes).

CMS rating ★★★★★ 2/5
Left before seen 3%
ER volume low
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 Ouachita County Medical Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.

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

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What patients say

CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 47 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025

62% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 72% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.

Would definitely recommend 62% U.S. 71% · AR 71%
Rated 9 or 10 of 10 72% U.S. 72% · AR 73%
Survey response rate 13% of patients surveyed
Nurse communicationDid nurses treat you with courtesy and respect, listen carefully and explain things clearly?
82% always · 3% sometimes or never · U.S. 80% always
Doctor communicationDid doctors treat you with courtesy and respect, listen carefully and explain things clearly?
88% always · 4% 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?
76% always · 14% 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?
67% always · 17% sometimes or never · U.S. 74% always
Quiet at nightHow often was the area around your room quiet at night?
68% always · 7% 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?
72% 9 or 10 · 13% 6 or lower · U.S. 72% 9 or 10
Would recommendWould you recommend this hospital to your friends and family?
62% definitely yes · 9% 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. CMS gives a star rating only to hospitals with at least 100 completed surveys, so this hospital has answer percentages but no stars. These results come from fewer than 100 completed surveys, so CMS advises using them with caution. About the data.

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Infections, complications and deaths

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide

Ouachita County Medical Center was no different from the national benchmark on the one hospital-acquired infection CMS could compare. Its rate of serious complications was same as national.

Hospital-acquired infections

C. diff intestinal infectionsClostridioides difficile infections, a bacteria that causes severe diarrhea, often after antibiotics.
Same as national 0 infections vs 1.1 predicted · ratio 0.00

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 0.95

Death rates within 30 days

Patients treated forThis hospitalU.S.
Heart failure patients 12.7% 11.1%
Pneumonia patients 17.2% 15.2%
Hospital-wide, all conditions 6.2% 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 6 complication measures
MeasureThis hospitalU.S.CMS comparison
Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients 0.52 0.63 Same as national
Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients 0.27 0.27 Same as national
Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients 0.21 0.21 Same as national
Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients 2.33 2.34 Same as national
Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients 3.41 3.52 Same as national
Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients 1.05 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 Ouachita County Medical Center accept?

Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 040050). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.

2027 Marketplace plans in Arkansas that list this hospital

Marketplace insurers whose 2027 plan networks in Arkansas list Ouachita County Medical Center, most plans in network first
InsurerPlans in networkNetworkNetwork tier
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield 23 of 23 plans TRUE-BLUE-PPO True-Blue-Ppo
Ambetter 15 of 15 plans – Preferred
Health Advantage 15 of 15 plans TRUE-BLUE-PPO True-Blue-Ppo
Octave 12 of 12 plans USABLE-MUTUAL-CONNECT-PPO Usable-Mutual-Connect-Ppo

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

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

Is Ouachita County Medical Center 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 Ouachita County Medical Center accept?

In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Ouachita County Medical Center is in network for 4 Marketplace insurers in Arkansas: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield (23 of 23 plans), Ambetter (15 of 15 plans), Health Advantage (15 of 15 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 Ouachita County Medical Center take Medicare?

Ouachita County Medical Center is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 040050), 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 Ouachita County Medical Center accept Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield?

Ouachita County Medical Center is in network for 23 of 23 plans that Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield sells on the Arkansas Marketplace in 2027, according to Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield'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 Ouachita County Medical Center accept Ambetter?

Ouachita County Medical Center is in network for 15 of 15 plans that Ambetter sells on the Arkansas 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 Ouachita County Medical Center accept Health Advantage?

Ouachita County Medical Center is in network for 15 of 15 plans that Health Advantage sells on the Arkansas Marketplace in 2027, according to Health Advantage'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 1 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Ouachita County Medical Center was no different from the national rate or its expected level.

Back in the hospital within 30 days

After a stay forThis hospitalU.S.CMS comparison
Heart failure 21.1% 21.3% Not compared
Pneumonia 18.1% 17.3% Not compared

Return trips after a stay or procedure

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 +27.7 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 +95.5 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 12.8 per 1,000 procedures · U.S. 13

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 2 conditions are above 1.00.

ConditionRatioPatientsReadmissions
Pneumonia 1.045 78 More than expected
Heart failure 1.005 – More 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

Ouachita County Medical Center's emergency department is classed by CMS as low 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. 49 patients. 45% 65%
Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 11 patients. 73% 73%
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. 298 patients. 142 min 162 min
Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 11 patients. 168 min 257 min
Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 53 patients. 271 min 287 min
Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 13,201 patients. 3% 2%
Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 568 patients. 78% 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. 150 patients. 21% 15%
Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 40 patients. 100% 93%
Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 329 patients. 91% 90%*
Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 148 patients. 94% 97%*

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
20 / 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
1.04
4% more than the national median per hospital stay (about $28,513 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 complications0
Patient experiencePatient survey results–
SafetyHospital-acquired infections50
Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient10

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 Ouachita County Medical Center

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

Skilled nursing facilities nearby

Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State

Dialysis centers nearby See more

Home health agencies nearby See more

Hospice care providers nearby See more

Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

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Doctors at Ouachita County Medical Center

35 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 9 specialties.

See all 35 clinicians

Find doctors in Camden

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

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Prices at Ouachita County Medical Center

Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Ouachita County Medical Center lists them here:

From the hospital's price transparency file (www.ouachitamedcenter.com/cms-hpt.txt), checked Oct 31, 2026. For an estimate of what you'll pay, ask the hospital or your insurer; Medicare's averages are on our procedure cost pages.

What Medicare paid at Ouachita County 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 Arkansas.

Hospital stays

StayStaysAvg billedAvg payment (Medicare + patient)vs state
Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 28 $33,429 $15,384 +8%
Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 21 $17,668 $10,478 +11%
Respiratory infections and inflammations with complicationsDRG 178 16 $22,537 $8,183 +14%
Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with complicationsDRG 194 15 $21,966 $7,115 +13%
Respiratory infections and inflammations with major complicationsDRG 177 13 $31,013 $13,368 +13%
Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 11 $27,755 $10,468 +10%
Kidney and urinary tract infections without major complicationsDRG 690 11 $20,129 $6,960 +13%

Outpatient services

ServiceServicesAvg billedAvg allowed
Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 161 $9,861 $2,461
Level 1 Intraocular ProceduresAPC 5491 20 $11,034 $2,105
Level 1 Endovascular ProceduresAPC 5191 19 $10,073 $2,949
Level 3 Vascular ProceduresAPC 5183 12 $12,889 $2,160
Level 3 Endovascular ProceduresAPC 5193 11 $37,646 $9,930

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

Beds
50
Reported to Medicare, FY2024
Employees
328
Full-time equivalent
Discharges
939
Inpatient stays a year
Patient revenue
$27.8 million
Net of discounts
Operating margin
-14.7%
On patient care
Charity care
$184,000
0.6% of expenses
Bad debt
$6.8 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 Arkansas hospital finances.

Who owns Ouachita County Medical Center

Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)

65 doctors and other clinicians list Ouachita County 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.

Non-profit finances

IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Sep 2023 · Ouachita County Medical Center (EIN 71-0766341)

Revenue
$36.4 million
Expenses
$40.4 million
Deficit
$4.0 million
-11.0% of revenue

As filed with the IRS by Ouachita County Medical Center. 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 Ouachita County Medical Center

HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data

Primary care: Parts of Ouachita are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 17.

Mental health: Ouachita is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 18.

Dental: Parts of Ouachita are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 13.

Nurse pay: registered nurses in Arkansas earn a median $78,940 a year. Healthcare salaries in Arkansas.

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. Arkansas shortage areas

Healthcare pay in Arkansas

Registered nurses across Arkansas (all employers) earned a median of $78,940 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in ArkansasNurse Practitioner salary in ArkansasRespiratory Therapist salary in ArkansasHealthcare salaries in Arkansas

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Cite this data

Writing about Ouachita County 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.

Figures as of the July 2026 CMS release Updated automatically when CMS publishes new data Permanent link: hospitalsineachstate.com/hospitals/arkansas/camden/ouachita-county-medical-center/638-california-ave-sw/

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