Spanish Peaks Regional Health CenterWalsenburg, CO
- Time ZoneMST
- CountyHuerfano
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS8055
- Area Code719
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients spend an average of 1 hour 57 minutes in the emergency department at Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center. That is 22 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 Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Colorado · 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) · 38 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
66% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 74% 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. 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.
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center 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 | 18.1% | 15.2% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.8% | 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 1 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Spanish Peaks Regional Health 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia | 17% | 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
Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 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. 375 patients. | 117 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 12 patients. | 180 min | 257 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 4,439 patients. | 1% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 268 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. 77 patients. | 29% | 15% |
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. About the data.
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 Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Huerfano County Hospital District, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1961.
60 doctors and other clinicians list Spanish Peaks Regional Health 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 Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Huerfano are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 15.
Mental health: Huerfano is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 16.
Dental: Parts of Huerfano 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