Source: CMS Care Compare, October 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)
Seattle, WA 98108
County: King Directions Apple Maps Call (206) 764-2299
- 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
Nearby hospitals
- 2.8mi Harborview Medical Center Seattle, WA · Emergency room · median ER visit 5 hr 9 min Call Harborview Medical Center Directions to Harborview Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for Harborview Medical Center
- 3.0mi Swedish Medical Center/Cherry Hill Seattle, WA · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 8 min Call Swedish Medical Center/Cherry Hill Directions to Swedish Medical Center/Cherry Hill (Google Maps) Details for Swedish Medical Center/Cherry Hill
- 3.1mi Swedish Medical Center Seattle, WA · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 24 min Call Swedish Medical Center Directions to Swedish Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for Swedish Medical Center
Quick answers about Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)
How long is the ER wait at Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 1 hr 42 min in the Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) emergency room (the average across Washington hospitals is 2 hr 49 min). 1% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, call (206) 764-2299. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)?
The main phone number for Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) is (206) 764-2299, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (206) 764-2299What is the address of Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)?
Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) is at 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) have an emergency room?
Yes. Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)'s Medicare star rating?
Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) has an overall rating of 4 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
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) spend a median of 1 hour 42 minutes there. That is 1 hour 7 minutes shorter than the average across Washington hospitals (2 hours 49 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 Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System). For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Washington · How Washington hospitals rank on star ratings · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 628 completed surveys · patients discharged Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
Patients gave Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 72% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 67% 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 Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Of the 2 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare, Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) was better than the national benchmark on 2 and worse on 0.
Hospital-acquired infections
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack patients | 12.0% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 6.9% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 11.1% | 15.2% |
| COPD patients | 7.9% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.4% | 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), for Jan 2025 – Dec 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.
Health care eligibility at Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)
Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System) 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.
Washington runs its own exchange, Washington HealthPlanFinder. Check its provider directory for Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System).
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. | 15.5% | 16.2% | Not compared |
| Heart attack | 14.6% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 20.2% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 18.6% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20.6% | 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 2025 – Dec 2025
Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)'s emergency department is classed by CMS as low 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. 140 patients. | 57% | 66% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 107 patients. | 77% | 75% |
| 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. 89 patients. | 102 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 16 patients. | 330 min | 257 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 18,964 patients. | 1% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 4,442 patients. | 89% | 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. 944 patients. | 13% | 16% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 12 patients. | 92% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 2,007 patients. | 80% | 91%* |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 581 patients. | 79% | 97%* |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 31 patients. | 100% | 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.
Care after a stay at Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.7mi Washington Care Center Seattle, WA · 165 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
- 1.6mi Kin on Health Care Center Seattle, WA · 100 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
- 2.2mi Transitional Care of Seattle Seattle, WA · 165 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 1 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 2.5mi Nkc Rainier Beach Kidney CenterSeattle, WA
- 2.7mi Nkc Yesler Terrace Kidney CenterSeattle, WA
- 3.1mi DaVita Westwood Dialysis CenterSeattle, WA
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 2.0mi Kline Galland Home HealthSeattle, WA · 79% would recommend
- 2.0mi Sea Mar Home HealthSeattle, WA
- 2.5mi Universal Home CareSeattle, WA Not rated
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 2.0mi Kline Galland Hospice ServicesSeattle, WA · 92% would recommend
- 5.2mi Kaiser Permanente Washington HospiceSeattle, WA · 83% would recommend
- 5.2mi Providence at Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Puget SoundTukwila, WA · 82% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Find doctors in Seattle
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Seattle, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
The area around Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of King are federally designated health professional shortage areas (13 designations). Highest shortage score 18.
Mental health: Parts of King are federally designated health professional shortage areas (11 designations). Highest shortage score 18.
Dental: Parts of King are federally designated health professional shortage areas (5 designations). Highest shortage score 19.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Washington earn a median $124,200 a year. Healthcare salaries in Washington.
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. Washington shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Washington
Registered nurses across Washington (all employers) earned a median of $124,200 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in WashingtonNurse Practitioner salary in WashingtonRespiratory Therapist salary in WashingtonHealthcare salaries in Washington
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Cite this data
Writing about Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)? 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.