Source: CMS Care Compare, October 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Down East Community 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
Official links: Website for Down East Community Hospital (opens the hospital's site)
Nearby hospitals
- 34mi Calais Regional Hospital Calais, ME · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 34 min Call Calais Regional Hospital Directions to Calais Regional Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Calais Regional Hospital
- 42mi Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor, ME · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 11 min Call Mount Desert Island Hospital Directions to Mount Desert Island Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Mount Desert Island Hospital
- 48mi Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Ellsworth, ME · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 28 min Call Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Directions to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Maine Coast Memorial Hospital
Quick answers about Down East Community Hospital
How long is the ER wait at Down East Community Hospital?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 3 hr 13 min in the Down East Community Hospital emergency room (the average across Maine hospitals is 2 hr 41 min). 5% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (207) 255-3356. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Down East Community Hospital?
The main phone number for Down East Community Hospital is (207) 255-3356, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (207) 255-3356What is the address of Down East Community Hospital?
Down East Community Hospital is at 11 Hospital Dr, Machias, ME 04654.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Down East Community Hospital have an emergency room?
Yes. Down East Community Hospital has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Down East Community Hospital's Medicare star rating?
Down East Community Hospital 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
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Down East Community Hospital spend a median of 3 hours 13 minutes there. That is 32 minutes longer than the average across Maine hospitals (2 hours 41 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 Down East Community Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Maine · How Maine hospitals rank on star ratings · Other Critical Access hospitals in Maine · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 88 completed surveys · patients discharged Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
64% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 63% 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
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia patients | 16.1% | 15.2% |
| 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.
"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 insurance at Down East Community Hospital
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 201311). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
Maine runs its own exchange, CoverME.gov. Check its provider directory for Down East Community Hospital.
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. | 15.9% | 16.2% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 21.4% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 17.3% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 19.4% | 20% | 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
Down East Community 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. 32 patients. | 59% | 66% |
| 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. 389 patients. | 193 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 17 patients. | 785 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 21 patients. | 685 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 9,266 patients. | 5% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 412 patients. | 98% | 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. 132 patients. | 20% | 16% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 314 patients. | 98% | 91%* |
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 2025 – Dec 2025
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.
Care after a stay at Down East Community Hospital
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.5mi Marshall Health Care and Rehab Machias, ME · 64 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 2 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 22mi Sunrise County Home Care ServicesLubec, ME · 85% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at Down East Community Hospital
82 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 18 specialties.
Find doctors in Machias
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Machias, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Down East Community Hospital lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (dech.org/cms-hpt.txt), checked Nov 7, 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 Maine hospital finances.
Who owns Down East Community Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Down East Community Hospital, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1960.
150 doctors and other clinicians list Down East Community 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 · Down East Community Hospital (EIN 01-0263198)
As filed with the IRS by Down East Community 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 Down East Community Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Washington are federally designated health professional shortage areas (11 designations). Highest shortage score 16.
Mental health: Parts of Washington are federally designated health professional shortage areas (5 designations). Highest shortage score 19.
Dental: Parts of Washington are federally designated health professional shortage areas (8 designations). Highest shortage score 18.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Maine earn a median $86,990 a year. Healthcare salaries in Maine.
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. Maine shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Maine
Registered nurses across Maine (all employers) earned a median of $86,990 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in MaineNurse Practitioner salary in MaineRespiratory Therapist salary in MaineHealthcare salaries in Maine
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Cite this data
Writing about Down East Community Hospital? 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.