St Elizabeth HospitalFort Morgan, CO
- Time ZoneMST
- CountyMorgan
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS8087
- Area Code970
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 St Elizabeth Hospital. That is 33 minutes shorter than the Colorado average of 2 hours 19 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 St Elizabeth Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Colorado · How Colorado hospitals rank on star ratings · Other birthing-friendly hospitals in Colorado · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 120 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave St Elizabeth Hospital a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 68% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 71% 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
Its rate of serious complications was same as national.
Serious complications
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart failure patients | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 16.2% | 15.2% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 4.6% | 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
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 4.2 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 0.57 | 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 | 2.32 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.67 | 1.67 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 9.31 | 9.42 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.41 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 5.24 | 5.27 | 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). 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, St Elizabeth 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 | 20.3% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 16.6% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5.8% | 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.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | 0.987 | – | Fewer than expected |
| Pneumonia | 0.974 | – | Fewer than expected |
| Heart failure | 0.967 | – | 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
St Elizabeth Hospital's emergency department is classed by CMS as low 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. 62 patients. | 69% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 12 patients. | 100% | 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. 358 patients. | 106 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 19 patients. | 337 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 29 patients. | 240 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 8,911 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 657 patients. | 93% | 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. 256 patients. | 6% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 74 patients. | 92% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 398 patients. | 95% | 90%* |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 51 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 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 | 16.7 |
| Patient experiencePatient survey results | 59 |
| SafetyHospital-acquired infections | – |
| Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient | 40 |
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.
What Medicare paid at St Elizabeth 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 Colorado.
Hospital stays
| Stay | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 | 27 | $53,954 | $19,470 | +16% |
| Major hip and knee joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity without major complicationsDRG 470 | 24 | $75,692 | $18,641 | +18% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 13 | $33,421 | $12,842 | +16% |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg charge | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 | 65 | $28,566 | $2,757 |
| Level 2 Urology and Related ServicesAPC 5372 | 21 | $4,817 | $696 |
| Level 2 Excision/Biopsy/Incision and DrainageAPC 5072 | – | – | – |
| Level 3 Excision/Biopsy/Incision and DrainageAPC 5073 | – | – | – |
| Level 2 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5112 | – | – | – |
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 Jun 2025
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 St Elizabeth Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Catholic Health Initiatives Colorado, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1968.
97 doctors and other clinicians list St Elizabeth 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 Jun 2023 · Catholic Health Initiatives Colorado (EIN 84-0405257)
As filed with the IRS by Catholic Health Initiatives Colorado, which also files for 8 other hospitals listed here, so the figures cover more than this hospital. 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 St Elizabeth Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Morgan are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 14.
Mental health: Morgan is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 13.
Dental: Parts of Morgan are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 8.
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
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