Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
- 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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown (opens the hospital's site)
Nearby hospitals
- 1.3mi Palmetto Health Baptist Columbia, SC · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 33 min Call Palmetto Health Baptist Directions to Palmetto Health Baptist (Google Maps) Details for Palmetto Health Baptist
- 1.3mi Healthsouth Rehab Hospital Columbia, SC Call Healthsouth Rehab Hospital Directions to Healthsouth Rehab Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Healthsouth Rehab Hospital
- 1.5mi Palmetto Health Richland Columbia, SC · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 45 min Call Palmetto Health Richland Directions to Palmetto Health Richland (Google Maps) Details for Palmetto Health Richland
Quick answers about MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
How long is the ER wait at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 2 hr 14 min in the MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown emergency room (the average across South Carolina hospitals is 2 hr 43 min). 0% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (803) 256-5300. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown?
The main phone number for MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown is (803) 256-5300, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (803) 256-5300What is the address of MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown?
MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown is at 2435 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29204.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown have an emergency room?
Yes. MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown's Medicare star rating?
MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown has an overall rating of 3 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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown spend a median of 2 hours 14 minutes there. That is 29 minutes shorter than the average across South Carolina hospitals (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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across South Carolina · How South Carolina hospitals rank on star ratings · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 978 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown a 3-star patient experience rating out of 5. 67% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 68% 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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Of the 5 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare, MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown was better than the national benchmark on 1 and worse on 0. 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 | 13.9% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 15.2% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 11.7% | 11.9% |
| COPD patients | 9.5% | 8.6% |
| Coronary bypass (CABG) surgery patients | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.7% | 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.
Other complications
All 12 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 3.8 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Deaths among surgical patients with serious treatable complicationsper 1,000 patients | 164.98 | 173.3 | Same as national |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 1.56 | 0.63 | Worse than national |
| Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients | 0.26 | 0.27 | Same as national |
| Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients | 0.33 | 0.21 | Same as national |
| Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 2.25 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.68 | 1.67 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 5.96 | 9.42 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 4.56 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 6.32 | 5.27 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 1.69 | 1.77 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 0.89 | 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.
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, MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown 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 | 14.4% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 22.3% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 17.9% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20% | 20% | Not compared |
| Heart bypass surgery (CABG) | 9.9% | 11% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5.6% | 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. 1 of 6 conditions is above 1.00.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia | 1.034 | 247 | More than expected |
| Heart attack | 0.978 | 311 | Fewer than expected |
| Heart failure | 0.977 | 449 | Fewer than expected |
| COPD | 0.903 | – | Fewer than expected |
| Heart bypass surgery | 0.892 | 184 | Fewer than expected |
| Hip or knee replacement | 0.757 | – | Fewer 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
MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown's emergency department is classed by CMS as very 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. 76 patients. | 46% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 13 patients. | 46% | 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. 12 patients. | 75% | 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. 392 patients. | 134 min | 162 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 74,223 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,717 patients. | 79% | 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. 1,816 patients. | 17% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 105 patients. | 94% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 4,313 patients. | 84% | 90%* |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 827 patients. | 87% | 97%* |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 126 patients. | 96% | 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.
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 | 27 |
| SafetyHospital-acquired infections | 30 |
| Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient | 0 |
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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.2mi PruittHealth- Columbia Columbia, SC · 144 beds Medicare overall 1 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
- 0.4mi Forest Acres Post Acute Columbia, SC · 132 beds Medicare overall 1 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 4 of 5
- 0.9mi Midlands Health & Rehabilitation Center Columbia, SC · 88 beds Medicare overall 2 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 4.9mi Fresenius Medical Care West ColumbiaWest Columbia, SC
- 6.2mi Central Columbia Kidney CenterColumbia, SC
- 6.2mi FMC Meadowlake DialysisColumbia, SC
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 1.1mi Prisma Health HomecareColumbia, SC · 87% would recommend
- 4.9mi Nhc Home Care MidlandsWest Columbia, SC · 84% would recommend
- 5.9mi Centerwell Home HealthColumbia, SC · 79% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 2.4mi Medical Services of America Hospice-ColumbiaColumbia, SC · 72% would recommend
- 4.9mi Compassionate Care Hospice of South CarolinaWest Columbia, SC · 78% would recommend
- 5.9mi Crescent Hospice, INCColumbia, SC · 85% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
402 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 29 specialties.
Find doctors in Columbia
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Columbia, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
What Medicare paid at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
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 South 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 | 159 | $65,509 | $13,566 | −15% |
| Percutaneous and other intracardiac procedures without major complicationsDRG 274 | 130 | $134,824 | $22,442 | −14% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 116 | $32,168 | $8,440 | −21% |
| Acute myocardial infarction, discharged alive with major complicationsDRG 280 | 101 | $44,839 | $10,274 | −19% |
| Gastrointestinal hemorrhage with complicationsDRG 378 | 60 | $32,199 | $6,543 | −24% |
| Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 | 57 | $34,585 | $8,701 | −22% |
| Pulmonary edema and respiratory failureDRG 189 | 55 | $46,868 | $8,784 | −20% |
| Circulatory disorders except AMI, with cardiac catheterization without major complicationsDRG 287 | 49 | $27,692 | $7,720 | −21% |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg billed | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Endovascular ProceduresAPC 5191 | 501 | $13,132 | $2,844 |
| Level 5 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5115 | 276 | $113,295 | $11,506 |
| Level 3 Endovascular ProceduresAPC 5193 | 170 | $56,836 | $9,480 |
| Level 2 Intraocular ProceduresAPC 5492 | 168 | $31,044 | $3,521 |
| Level 3 Electrophysiologic ProceduresAPC 5213 | 150 | $164,142 | $20,689 |
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 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 South Carolina hospital finances.
Who owns MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Medical University Hospital Authority, a non-profit organization.
791 doctors and other clinicians list MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown 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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Richland are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 12.
Mental health: Parts of Richland are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 17.
Dental: Parts of Richland are federally designated health professional shortage areas (2 designations). Highest shortage score 15.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in South Carolina earn a median $82,360 a year. Healthcare salaries in South 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. South Carolina shortage areas
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Cite this data
Writing about MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown? 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.