Source: CMS Care Compare, October 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
- 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
Nearby hospitals
- 1.3mi Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines, IA · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 11 min Call Broadlawns Medical Center Directions to Broadlawns Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for Broadlawns Medical Center
- 2.8mi Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines Des Moines, IA · Emergency room · median ER visit 4 hr 8 min Call Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines Directions to Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines (Google Maps) Details for Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines
- 3.0mi Iowa Methodist Medical Center Des Moines, IA · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 57 min Call Iowa Methodist Medical Center Directions to Iowa Methodist Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for Iowa Methodist Medical Center
Quick answers about VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
What is the phone number for VA Central Iowa Healthcare System?
The main phone number for VA Central Iowa Healthcare System is (515) 699-5999, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (515) 699-5999What is the address of VA Central Iowa Healthcare System?
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System is at 3600 30th Street, Des Moines, IA 50310.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does VA Central Iowa Healthcare System have an emergency room?
Yes. VA Central Iowa Healthcare System has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is VA Central Iowa Healthcare System's Medicare star rating?
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System has an overall rating of 4 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 October 2026
CMS has not reported an emergency department wait time for VA Central Iowa Healthcare System. That usually means too few cases to report, or no emergency department.
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 VA Central Iowa Healthcare System. For a medical emergency, call 911.
How Iowa hospitals rank on star ratings · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 469 completed surveys · patients discharged Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
Patients gave VA Central Iowa Healthcare System a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 79% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 80% 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 VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack patients | 11.3% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 13.0% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 12.0% | 15.2% |
| COPD patients | 10.1% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.6% | 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 1 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 4.5 | 4.1 | Not compared |
"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.
Health care eligibility at VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System is a VA medical center. VA hospitals care for veterans enrolled in VA health care; contact the VA to check your eligibility before you go.
Adults in Iowa qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which Iowa Medicaid plans it takes.
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 2024 – Jun 2025
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| All conditions (hospital-wide)Medicare patients back in any hospital within 30 days of leaving. | 15% | 16.2% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 21.4% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 17.3% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20.6% | 20% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5.4% | 5.8% | 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 · Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System'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. 89 patients. | 75% | 66% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 68 patients. | 100% | 75% |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 12,646 patients. | 1% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,594 patients. | 90% | 77% |
| 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. 314 patients. | 14% | 16% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 1,189 patients. | 76% | 91%* |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 109 patients. | 80% | 97%* |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 28 patients. | 96% | 98%* |
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.
Care after a stay at VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 1.1mi Calvin Community Des Moines, IA · 59 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
- 1.3mi Ramsey Village Des Moines, IA · 78 beds Medicare overall 2 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
- 2.5mi Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center Des Moines, IA · 46 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 2.2mi FMC - MercyDes Moines, IA
- 3.1mi DaVita Windsor Heights DialysisWindsor Heights, IA
- 3.5mi DaVita East Des Moines DialysisDes Moines, IA
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 0.6mi Angels Care Home Health of IowaDes Moines, IA · 73% would recommend
- 3.5mi Open Arms Home Health Care - Des MoinesDes Moines, IA Not rated
- 3.6mi Mercyone Des Moines Home CareDes Moines, IA · 81% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 3.8mi Unitypoint HospiceUrbandale, IA · 89% would recommend
- 3.8mi Wesleylife HospiceUrbandale, IA · 85% would recommend
- 3.9mi Mercyone Des Moines HospiceDes Moines, IA · 83% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Find doctors in Des Moines
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Des Moines, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
The area around VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Polk are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 14.
Mental health: Parts of Polk are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 17.
Dental: Parts of Polk are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 9.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Iowa earn a median $78,630 a year. Healthcare salaries in Iowa.
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. Iowa shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Iowa
Registered nurses across Iowa (all employers) earned a median of $78,630 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in IowaNurse Practitioner salary in IowaRespiratory Therapist salary in IowaHealthcare salaries in Iowa
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Cite this data
Writing about VA Central Iowa Healthcare System? 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.