Athol Memorial HospitalAthol, MA
Athol Memorial Hospital is a non-profit critical access hospital in Athol, Massachusetts, with an emergency department. As of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 2 hr 54 min in its emergency department, 46 min shorter than the Massachusetts average of 3 hr 40 min. Medicare rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall.
(978) 249-3511 Visit Website- Time ZoneEST
- CountyWorcester
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS25027
- Area Code978
Visiting Athol 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 2 hours 54 minutes in the emergency department at Athol Memorial Hospital. That is 46 minutes shorter than the Massachusetts average of 3 hours 40 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 Athol Memorial Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Massachusetts · How Massachusetts hospitals rank on star ratings · Other Critical Access hospitals in Massachusetts · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 76 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
75% 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
Athol Memorial Hospital 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. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart failure patients | 11.5% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 11.4% | 15.2% |
| COPD patients | 7.0% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.9% | 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 3 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Athol 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart failure | 21.5% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 17.4% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 19.7% | 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 · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Athol 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. 307 patients. | 174 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 29 patients. | 375 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 62 patients. | 397 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 8,558 patients. | 2% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 379 patients. | 72% | 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. 72 patients. | 25% | 15% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 344 patients. | 84% | 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 Athol Memorial Hospital
88 Medicare-enrolled doctors and specialists list this hospital as an affiliation, across 21 specialties.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Athol Memorial Hospital lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.atholhospital.org/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 Sep 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 Massachusetts hospital finances.
Who owns Athol Memorial Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Athol Memorial Hospital Incorporated, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1918.
201 doctors and other clinicians list Athol 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.
Non-profit finances
IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Sep 2023 · Athol Memorial Hospital Incorporated (EIN 04-2126583)
As filed with the IRS by Athol Memorial Hospital Incorporated. 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 Athol Memorial Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Worcester are federally designated health professional shortage areas (4 designations). Highest shortage score 15.
Mental health: Parts of Worcester are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 14.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Massachusetts earn a median $104,550 a year. Healthcare salaries in Massachusetts.
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. Massachusetts shortage areas
Find doctors in Athol
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Athol, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Add this rating badge to your website
The badge updates automatically when CMS publishes new ratings. About badges.