Southwest Memorial HospitalCortez, CO
Southwest Memorial Hospital is a non-profit critical access hospital in Cortez, Colorado, with an emergency department. As of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 1 hr 46 min in its emergency department, 32 min shorter than the Colorado average of 2 hr 18 min. Medicare rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, and patients give it 4 out of 5 in the Medicare patient survey.
(970) 565-6666 Visit Website- Time ZoneMST
- CountyMontezuma
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS8083
- Area Code970
Visiting Southwest Memorial Hospital
- 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
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients spend an average of 1 hour 46 minutes in the emergency department at Southwest Memorial Hospital. That is 32 minutes shorter than the Colorado average of 2 hours 18 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 Southwest Memorial Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Colorado · How Colorado hospitals rank on star ratings · Other Critical Access hospitals in Colorado · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 103 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Southwest Memorial Hospital a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 67% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 68% 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.
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Southwest Memorial Hospital was no different from the national benchmark on the one hospital-acquired infection CMS could compare.
Hospital-acquired infections
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia patients | 13.7% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 11.5% | 11.9% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 4.7% | 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.
"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.
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, Southwest 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 | 21% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 16.7% | 17.3% | Not compared |
Return trips after a stay or procedure
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
| 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. 45 patients. | 71% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 16 patients. | 81% | 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. 13 patients. | 46% | 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. 376 patients. | 106 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 50 patients. | 190 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 20 patients. | 364 min | 287 min |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 492 patients. | 98% | 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. 284 patients. | 12% | 15% |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 30 patients. | 93% | 98%* |
| Stroke: clot prevention started by day 2Higher is better. 30 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 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.
Doctors at Southwest Memorial Hospital
127 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 20 specialties.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Southwest Memorial Hospital lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.swhealth.org/cms-hpt.txt), checked Oct 24, 2026. For an estimate of what you'll pay, ask the hospital or your insurer; Medicare's averages are on our procedure cost pages.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Dec 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 Colorado hospital finances.
Who owns Southwest Memorial Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Southwest Health System Inc, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1996.
236 doctors and other clinicians list Southwest 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 Dec 2023 · Southwest Health System Inc (EIN 84-1337350)
As filed with the IRS by Southwest Health System 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 Southwest Memorial Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Montezuma are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.
Mental health: Montezuma is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 18.
Dental: Parts of Montezuma are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 13.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Colorado earn a median $100,260 a year. Healthcare salaries in Colorado.
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. Colorado shortage areas
Find doctors in Cortez
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Cortez, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Care after a stay at Southwest Memorial Hospital
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 9.4mi DaVita Cortez Dialysis CenterCortez, CO
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 9.4mi Pasco/Sw Home HealthCortez, CO · 80% would recommend
- 9.4mi Guardian Angel Home HealthCortez, CO
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 9.4mi Hospice of Montezuma INCCortez, CO · 90% would recommend Not rated
- 9.4mi Pasco/Sw HospiceCortez, CO · 93% would recommend Not rated
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
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