Borgess-Lee Memorial HospitalDowagiac, MI
Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital is a non-profit critical access hospital in Dowagiac, Michigan, with an emergency department. As of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 1 hr 14 min in its emergency department, 1 hr 29 min shorter than the Michigan average of 2 hr 43 min.
- Time ZoneEST
- CountyCass
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS26027
- Area Code269
Visiting Borgess-Lee 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 14 minutes in the emergency department at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. That is 1 hour 29 minutes shorter than the Michigan average of 2 hours 43 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 Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Michigan · Other Critical Access hospitals in Michigan · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 29 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
76% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 76% 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. |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 4.7% | 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.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Borgess-Lee 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. 344 patients. | 74 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 20 patients. | 129 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 23 patients. | 350 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 7,967 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 213 patients. | 59% | 78% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 30 patients. | 63% | 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 Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital
35 Medicare-enrolled doctors and specialists list this hospital as an affiliation, across 13 specialties.
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 Michigan hospital finances.
Who owns Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital, a non-profit organization.
74 doctors and other clinicians list Borgess-Lee 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 Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Cass is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 16.
Mental health: Cass is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 14.
Dental: Parts of Cass are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Michigan earn a median $94,300 a year. Healthcare salaries in Michigan.
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. Michigan shortage areas
Find doctors in Dowagiac
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Dowagiac, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.