Sanford Medical Center Thief River FallsThief River Falls, MN
Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls is a non-profit critical access hospital in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, with an emergency department. As of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 1 hr 47 min in its emergency department, 28 min shorter than the Minnesota average of 2 hr 15 min. Patients give it 4 out of 5 stars in the Medicare patient survey.
(218) 683-4351 Visit Website- Time ZoneCST
- CountyPennington
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS27113
- Area Code218
Visiting Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls
- 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 47 minutes in the emergency department at Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls. That is 28 minutes shorter than the Minnesota average of 2 hours 15 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 Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Minnesota · Other Critical Access hospitals in Minnesota · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 145 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 70% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 71% 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. |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia patients | 19.3% | 15.2% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 4.3% | 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 2 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls 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 |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 19.2% | 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
Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke: brain scan read within 45 minutes of ER arrivalPatients arriving with stroke symptoms whose head CT or MRI was interpreted within 45 minutes. Higher is better. 11 patients. | 64% | 69% |
| 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. 360 patients. | 107 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 19 patients. | 179 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 25 patients. | 292 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 8,138 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 494 patients. | 80% | 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. 176 patients. | 8% | 15% |
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. About the data.
Maternity care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · reported by the hospital · Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
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.
Doctors at Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls
78 Medicare-enrolled doctors and specialists list this hospital as an affiliation, across 22 specialties.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.sanfordhealth.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 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 Minnesota hospital finances.
Who owns Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Sanford Health Network North, a non-profit organization, incorporated 2018.
169 doctors and other clinicians list Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls 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 Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Pennington is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 9.
Mental health: Pennington is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 17.
Dental: Pennington is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 9.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Minnesota earn a median $101,510 a year. Healthcare salaries in Minnesota.
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. Minnesota shortage areas
Find doctors in Thief River Falls
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Thief River Falls, 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.