Veterans Memorial HospitalWaukon, IA
Veterans Memorial Hospital is a public critical access hospital in Waukon, Iowa, with an emergency department. As of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 1 hr 37 min in its emergency department, 31 min shorter than the Iowa average of 2 hr 8 min. Patients give it 5 out of 5 stars in the Medicare patient survey.
(563) 568-3411 Visit Website- Time ZoneCST
- CountyAllamakee
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS19005
- Area Code563
Visiting Veterans 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 37 minutes in the emergency department at Veterans Memorial Hospital. That is 31 minutes shorter than the Iowa average of 2 hours 8 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 Veterans Memorial Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Iowa · Other Critical Access hospitals in Iowa · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 117 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Veterans Memorial Hospital a 5-star patient experience rating out of 5. 84% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 84% 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
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart failure patients | 12.6% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 17.2% | 15.2% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 5.1% | 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). 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, Veterans 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Veterans Memorial Hospital'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. 350 patients. | 97 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 17 patients. | 217 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 13 patients. | 245 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 4,162 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 261 patients. | 70% | 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. 65 patients. | 12% | 15% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 209 patients. | 74% | 90%* |
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.
Doctors at Veterans Memorial Hospital
49 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 16 specialties.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Veterans Memorial Hospital lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.veteransmemorialhospital.com/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 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 Iowa hospital finances.
Who owns Veterans Memorial Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Veterans Memorial Hospital City of Waukon Ia, a non-profit organization.
125 doctors and other clinicians list Veterans 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.
The area around Veterans Memorial Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Allamakee are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.
Mental health: Allamakee is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 16.
Dental: Parts of Allamakee are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.
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
Find doctors in Waukon
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Waukon, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Care after a stay at Veterans 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
- 17mi Mayo Clinic Hosp-DYLSDecorah, IA
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 0.6mi V M H Comunity & Home CareWaukon, IA · 89% would recommend
- 17mi Winnmed Home HealthDecorah, IA · 87% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 17mi Winnmed HospiceDecorah, IA · 94% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
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