Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Carteret General Hospital
Morehead City, NC 28557
County: Carteret Directions Apple Maps Call (252) 499-6000
- 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 Carteret General Hospital (opens the hospital's site)
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Quick answers about Carteret General Hospital
How long is the ER wait at Carteret General 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 45 min in the Carteret General Hospital emergency room (the average across North Carolina hospitals is 3 hr 3 min). 2% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (252) 499-6000. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Carteret General Hospital?
The main phone number for Carteret General Hospital is (252) 499-6000, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (252) 499-6000What is the address of Carteret General Hospital?
Carteret General Hospital is at 3500 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Carteret General Hospital have an emergency room?
Yes. Carteret General Hospital has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Carteret General Hospital's Medicare star rating?
Carteret General Hospital has an overall rating of 2 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 July 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Carteret General Hospital spend a median of 3 hours 45 minutes there. That is 42 minutes longer than the average across North Carolina hospitals (3 hours 3 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 Carteret General Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across North Carolina · How North Carolina hospitals rank on star ratings · Other birthing-friendly hospitals in North Carolina · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 321 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Carteret General Hospital a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 72% 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. About the data.
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Of the 3 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare, Carteret General Hospital was better than the national benchmark on 0 and worse on 1. Its rate of serious complications was same as national.
Hospital-acquired infections
Serious complications
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack patients | 13.7% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 20.9% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 13.4% | 11.9% |
| COPD patients | 9.8% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 5.5% | 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.
Other complications
None of the other safety indicators CMS compares was statistically better or worse than national.
All 11 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 4.5 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 0.63 | 0.63 | Same as national |
| Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients | 0.24 | 0.27 | Same as national |
| Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients | 0.18 | 0.21 | Same as national |
| Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 2.12 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.63 | 1.67 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 10.13 | 9.42 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 4.64 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 6.57 | 5.27 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 1.67 | 1.77 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 0.98 | 1.06 | Same as national |
"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.
What insurance does Carteret General Hospital accept?
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 340142). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
2027 Marketplace plans in North Carolina that list this hospital
| Insurer | Plans in network |
|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | 20 of 166 plans |
2027 plan year, individual Marketplace (ACA) plans only.Health insurance in North Carolina
Plans that include this hospital: Blue Advantage Bronze Basic | 3 Free PCP | $25 Tier 1 Rx | HSA Eligible | Integrated | Nationwide Doctors, Blue Advantage Bronze Complete | $60 PCP | $20 Tier 1 Rx | HSA Eligible | Nationwide Doctors, Blue Advantage Bronze HSA Eligible Plus | Integrated | Nationwide Doctors, Blue Advantage Bronze Standard | $50 PCP | $25 Tier 1 Rx | HSA Eligible | Integrated | Nationwide Doctors, Blue Advantage Gold All Copay A | $30 PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Nationwide Doctors, Blue Advantage Gold Premier A | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Nationwide Doctors Compare plans
Adults in North Carolina qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which North Carolina Medicaid plans it takes.
What insurance does Carteret General Hospital accept?
In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Carteret General Hospital is in network for 1 Marketplace insurer in North Carolina: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC (20 of 166 plans). This covers Marketplace (ACA) plans only, not Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or employer plans. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Carteret General Hospital take Medicare?
Carteret General Hospital is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 340142), according to CMS hospital data. Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this page does not cover; check with your plan before you get care.
Does Carteret General Hospital accept Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC?
Carteret General Hospital is in network for 20 of 166 plans that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC sells on the North Carolina Marketplace in 2027, according to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Not every Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC plan includes it. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
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 2023 – Jun 2025
On the 4 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Carteret General 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 attack | 14.5% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 23.3% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 18.2% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 21% | 20% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5.9% | 5.8% | Not compared |
Return trips after a stay or procedure
Medicare's readmission program
Excess readmission ratio: this hospital's predicted readmissions divided by the number expected for a typical hospital with the same patients. Above 1.00 means more readmissions than expected. 5 of 5 conditions are above 1.00.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| COPD | 1.105 | 159 | More than expected |
| Heart failure | 1.075 | 340 | More than expected |
| Heart attack | 1.054 | 65 | More than expected |
| Pneumonia | 1.040 | 413 | More than expected |
| Hip or knee replacement | 1.021 | 329 | More than expected |
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
Carteret General Hospital's emergency department is classed by CMS as high 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. 405 patients. | 76% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 172 patients. | 94% | 73% |
| 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. 35 patients. | 80% | 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. 369 patients. | 225 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 19 patients. | 1,212 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 16 patients. | 266 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 40,781 patients. | 2% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,762 patients. | 94% | 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. 1,768 patients. | 21% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 24 patients. | 100% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 3,301 patients. | 99% | 90%* |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 438 patients. | 99% | 97%* |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 130 patients. | 99% | 98%* |
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 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.
Medicare spending and payment programs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Value-based purchasing scores by area
| Area | Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| Clinical outcomesDeath rates and complications | 10 |
| Patient experiencePatient survey results | 62 |
| SafetyHospital-acquired infections | 53.3 |
| Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient | 40 |
The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program cuts Medicare payments by 1% for the quarter of hospitals with the worst scores. The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program withholds a small share of every hospital's Medicare payments and pays it back according to the total performance score. A spending ratio of 1.00 equals the national median; spending reflects prices, the services patients received and care after discharge, not quality. Some hospitals, such as critical access, children's and cancer hospitals, are not part of these programs. About the data.
Care after a stay at Carteret General Hospital
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.2mi Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation and Health Care Center Morehead City, NC · 92 beds Medicare overall 5 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5
- 0.4mi Embassy at Morehead City Morehead City, NC · 42 beds Not rated by Medicare
- 8.3mi Croatan Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Newport, NC · 64 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 4 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 0.8mi FMC Bma of Crystal Coast INCMorehead City, NC
- 20mi FMC Sea SpraySwansboro, NC
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 0.8mi Centerwell Home HealthMorehead City, NC · 80% would recommend
- 0.8mi Carteret Health Care Home Health and HospiceMorehead City, NC · 93% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 0.8mi Hospice of Carteret CountyMorehead City, NC · 98% would recommend Not rated
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at Carteret General Hospital
217 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 29 specialties.
Find doctors in Morehead City
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Morehead City, 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. Carteret General Hospital lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.carterethealth.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.
What Medicare paid at Carteret General Hospital
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · original Medicare patients · 2024
Average hospital charges and actual payments for the procedures Medicare patients most often had here, compared with the average for North Carolina.
Hospital stays
| Stay | Stays | Avg billed | Avg payment (Medicare + patient) | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 | 144 | $30,373 | $16,683 | +1% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 118 | $18,448 | $10,899 | −4% |
| Major hip and knee joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity without major complicationsDRG 470 | 85 | $40,126 | $15,896 | +2% |
| Respiratory infections and inflammations with major complicationsDRG 177 | 71 | $22,705 | $14,183 | same |
| Kidney and urinary tract infections without major complicationsDRG 690 | 51 | $16,820 | $6,850 | −11% |
| Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 | 44 | $19,400 | $11,206 | −3% |
| Kidney and urinary tract infections with major complicationsDRG 689 | 44 | $17,998 | $9,948 | −3% |
| Hip and femur procedures except major joint with complicationsDRG 481 | 41 | $30,973 | $17,529 | same |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg billed | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 | 266 | $8,095 | $2,539 |
| Level 5 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5115 | 102 | $38,817 | $11,905 |
| Level 2 Excision/Biopsy/Incision and DrainageAPC 5072 | 101 | $6,491 | $1,438 |
| Level 4 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5114 | 97 | $23,700 | $6,608 |
| Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related ServicesAPC 5361 | 68 | $15,205 | $5,322 |
Charges are the hospital's list prices; payments are what Medicare, the patient and any other insurer actually paid (for outpatient services, Medicare's allowed amount). Private insurance prices differ. "vs state" compares this hospital's average payment with the state average for the same stay. All procedure costs.
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 North Carolina hospital finances.
Who owns Carteret General Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Carteret County General Hospital Corporation , incorporated 1970.
436 doctors and other clinicians list Carteret General 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 Carteret General Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Carteret are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 16.
Mental health: Carteret is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 17.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in North Carolina earn a median $84,350 a year. Healthcare salaries in North Carolina.
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. North Carolina shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in North Carolina
Registered nurses across North Carolina (all employers) earned a median of $84,350 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in North CarolinaNurse Practitioner salary in North CarolinaRespiratory Therapist salary in North CarolinaHealthcare salaries in North Carolina
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Cite this data
Writing about Carteret General 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.