Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Madison VA Medical Center
Madison, WI 53705
County: Dane Directions Apple Maps Call (608) 256-1901
- 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
- 0.2mi University of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority Madison, WI · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 34 min Call University of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority Directions to University of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority (Google Maps) Details for University of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority
- 1.7mi Meriter Hsptl Madison, WI · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 22 min Call Meriter Hsptl Directions to Meriter Hsptl (Google Maps) Details for Meriter Hsptl
- 1.9mi St Mary's Hospital Madison, WI · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 10 min Call St Mary's Hospital Directions to St Mary's Hospital (Google Maps) Details for St Mary's Hospital
Quick answers about Madison VA Medical Center
What is the phone number for Madison VA Medical Center?
The main phone number for Madison VA Medical Center is (608) 256-1901, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (608) 256-1901What is the address of Madison VA Medical Center?
Madison VA Medical Center is at 2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison, WI 53705.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Madison VA Medical Center have an emergency room?
Yes. Madison VA Medical Center has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Madison VA Medical Center's Medicare star rating?
Madison VA Medical Center 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 July 2026
CMS has not reported an emergency department wait time for Madison VA Medical Center. 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 Madison VA Medical Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
How Wisconsin hospitals rank on star ratings · Other VA hospitals in Wisconsin · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 559 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Madison VA Medical Center a 5-star patient experience rating out of 5. 88% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 89% 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 Madison VA Medical Center
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Madison VA Medical Center was no different from the national benchmark on all 2 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare. 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 | 12.1% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 7.1% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 11.2% | 15.2% |
| COPD patients | 6.8% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.1% | 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 10 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 0.38 | 0.63 | Same as national |
| Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients | 0.38 | 0.27 | Same as national |
| Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients | 0.17 | 0.21 | Same as national |
| Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.13 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.28 | 1.67 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 6.06 | 9.42 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.63 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 5.87 | 5.27 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 1.62 | 1.77 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.09 | 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.
Health care eligibility at Madison VA Medical Center
Madison VA Medical Center 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.
Adults in Wisconsin qualify for Medicaid up to 95% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which Wisconsin Medicaid plans it takes.
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
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart attack | 14.7% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 21.4% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 18.7% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20.2% | 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
Madison VA Medical Center'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. 104 patients. | 73% | 65% |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 14,376 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 2,733 patients. | 91% | 78% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 29 patients. | 79% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 2,342 patients. | 77% | 90%* |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 297 patients. | 72% | 97%* |
| Stroke: discharged on clot-prevention medicineHigher is better. 39 patients. | 97% | 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 Madison VA Medical Center
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 2.4mi Capitol Lakes Health Center Madison, WI · 49 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 4 of 5
- 2.5mi Oak Park Place of Nakoma Madison, WI · 33 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 5 of 5
- 3.1mi Middleton Village Nursing and Rehab Middleton, WI · 97 beds Medicare overall 1 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
- 3.3mi Fresenius Medical Care - Madison CapitolFitchburg, WI
- 3.3mi Fresenius Kidney Care FitchburgMadison, WI
- 4.4mi Fresenius Kidney Care MiddletonMadison, WI Not rated
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 2.8mi Aveanna Home HealthMadison, WI · 84% would recommend
- 3.3mi Interim Healthcare of WisconsinMadison, WI · 74% would recommend
- 4.5mi SSM Health at Home Home Health-WisconsinMadison, WI · 78% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 3.3mi Bristol Hospice MadisonMadison, WI · 73% would recommend
- 3.3mi Interim Healthcare of Wi MadisonMadison, WI Not rated
- 4.5mi Agrace HospicecareMadison, WI · 91% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Find doctors in Madison
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Madison, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
The area around Madison VA Medical Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Dane are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.
Mental health: Parts of Dane are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 12.
Dental: Parts of Dane are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 17.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Wisconsin earn a median $95,530 a year. Healthcare salaries in Wisconsin.
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. Wisconsin shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Wisconsin
Registered nurses across Wisconsin (all employers) earned a median of $95,530 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in WisconsinNurse Practitioner salary in WisconsinRespiratory Therapist salary in WisconsinHealthcare salaries in Wisconsin
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Cite this data
Writing about Madison VA Medical Center? 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.