Source: CMS Care Compare, October 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)
Altoona, PA 16602
County: Blair Directions Apple Maps Call (814) 943-8164
- 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
Nearest emergency rooms
- 2.3mi Altoona Regional Health System Altoona, PA · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 46 min Call Altoona Regional Health System Directions to Altoona Regional Health System (Google Maps) Details for Altoona Regional Health System
- 10mi Nason Hospital Roaring Spring, PA · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 14 min Call Nason Hospital Directions to Nason Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Nason Hospital
- 15mi Penn Highlands Tyrone Tyrone, PA · Emergency room · median ER visit 1 hr 46 min Call Penn Highlands Tyrone Directions to Penn Highlands Tyrone (Google Maps) Details for Penn Highlands Tyrone
Quick answers about James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)
What is the phone number for James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)?
The main phone number for James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona) is (814) 943-8164, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (814) 943-8164What is the address of James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)?
James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona) is at 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona) have an emergency room?
No emergency room is listed for James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona) in Medicare data. For an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
What is James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)'s Medicare star rating?
James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona) has an overall rating of 5 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
CMS has not reported an emergency department wait time for James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona). That usually means too few cases to report, or no emergency department.
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 James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona). For a medical emergency, call 911.
How Pennsylvania hospitals rank on star ratings · Other VA hospitals in Pennsylvania · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 164 completed surveys · patients discharged Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
Patients gave James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona) a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 82% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 84% 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.
Compare James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)
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. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart failure patients | 11.4% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 13.0% | 15.2% |
| COPD patients | 7.8% | 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). 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 care eligibility at James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)
James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona) is a VA medical center. VA hospitals care for veterans enrolled in VA health care; contact the VA to check your eligibility before you go.
Pennsylvania runs its own exchange, Pennie. Check its provider directory for James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona).
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. | 15.6% | 16.2% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 21.1% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 17.1% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 19.8% | 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 2024 – Dec 2024
James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)'s emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S.* |
|---|---|---|
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 7,554 patients. | 1% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,231 patients. | 87% | 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. 60 patients. | 12% | 16% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 54 patients. | 98% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 238 patients. | 88% | 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.
Care after a stay at James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.3mi Hilltop Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Altoona, PA · 133 beds Medicare overall 2 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
- 2.0mi Midtown Oaks Health & Rehab Center Altoona, PA · 120 beds Medicare overall 1 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 1 of 5
- 2.1mi Maybrook Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Altoona, PA · 240 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 0.3mi FKC AltoonaAltoona, PA
- 4.6mi USRC AltoonaAltoona, PA
- 15mi DaVita Tyrone DialysisTyrone, PA
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 0.3mi Grane Home Health CareAltoona, PA Not rated
- 4.6mi Advantage Home Health ServicesAltoona, PA · 66% would recommend
- 4.6mi UPMC Home Healthcare of Central PennsylvaniaAltoona, PA · 83% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 0.3mi Gentiva IIAltoona, PA · 93% would recommend
- 0.3mi Adoration HospiceAltoona, PA · 89% would recommend
- 0.3mi Aseracare HospiceAltoona, PA · 88% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Find doctors in Altoona
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Altoona, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
The area around James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Blair are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 13.
Mental health: Parts of Blair are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 14.
Dental: Parts of Blair are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 16.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Pennsylvania earn a median $96,430 a year. Healthcare salaries in Pennsylvania.
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. Pennsylvania shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Pennsylvania
Registered nurses across Pennsylvania (all employers) earned a median of $96,430 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in PennsylvaniaNurse Practitioner salary in PennsylvaniaRespiratory Therapist salary in PennsylvaniaHealthcare salaries in Pennsylvania
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Cite this data
Writing about James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center (Altoona)? 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.