Acute Care Hospital

Northwest Medical Center

1530 U S Highway 43, Winfield, AL 35594
24/7 Emergency Services
4 out of 5 Stars Why 4 stars? Northwest Medical Center's 4-star rating reflects above-average performance on Readmissions and below-average performance on Timely Care.

CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating · Northwest Medical Center

How was Northwest Medical Center's 4-star rating calculated?

The CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating applies to acute care hospitals like Northwest Medical Center. CMS standardizes every underlying measure against the national rate, computes a weighted score for each of five domains, sums them by the fixed weights below, and assigns 1–5 stars using k-means clustering across all reporting hospitals.

Domains that fed Northwest Medical Center's rating
Domain Weight Measures reported Hospital performance vs. national
Mortality 22% 4 of 7 0 better 4 same 0 worse
Safety of Care 22% 7 of 19 0 better 7 same 0 worse
Readmissions 22% 3 of 6 2 better 1 same 0 worse
Timely & Effective Care 12% 15 of 22 2 better 8 same 5 worse
Patient Experience 22% HCAHPS See HCAHPS detail below

How star meaning varies by hospital type. This CMS Overall Star Rating only applies to acute care hospitals. Children's hospitals (Pediatric Quality), psychiatric hospitals (IPFQR), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF QRP), long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH QRP), and VA medical centers each use separate quality programs designed for their patient populations. Comparing star ratings across these facility types isn't meaningful — see the methodology page for the full mapping of which program applies to which facility.

How CareRanks computes ratings → · CMS official methodology ↗

Quality measures

Mortality

Same as National Average

Measures the rate at which patients die within 30 days of hospital admission for specific conditions. A lower mortality rate indicates better outcomes.

Underlying measures: Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 3.80 95% interval: 2.10 – 6.40 Sample size: 125 Reporting period: 07/01/2023 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: Hybrid_HWM Death rate for COPD patients No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 8.80 95% interval: 5.30 – 14.30 Sample size: 56 Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: MORT_30_COPD Death rate for heart failure patients No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 10.90 95% interval: 6.60 – 17.00 Sample size: 28 Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: MORT_30_HF Death rate for pneumonia patients No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 16.30 95% interval: 11.50 – 22.40 Sample size: 77 Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: MORT_30_PN Death rate for CABG surgery patients Not Available Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: MORT_30_CABG Death rate for heart attack patients Number of Cases Too Small Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: MORT_30_AMI Death rate for stroke patients Number of Cases Too Small Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: MORT_30_STK

Safety of Care

Same as National Average

Tracks hospital-acquired infections, surgical complications, and other patient safety indicators. Lower rates indicate better safety practices.

Underlying measures: Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 1.05 95% interval: 0.00 – 2.14 Sample size: 31 Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_15 Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 0.21 95% interval: 0.00 – 0.44 Sample size: 575 Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_06 In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 0.27 95% interval: 0.05 – 0.48 Sample size: 606 Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_08 Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 2.32 95% interval: 0.59 – 4.05 Sample size: 26 Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_09 Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 3.48 95% interval: 0.84 – 6.11 Sample size: 26 Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_12 Pressure ulcer rate No Different Than the National Rate Hospital score: 0.53 95% interval: 0.00 – 1.77 Sample size: 489 Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_03 CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite No Different Than the National Value Hospital score: 0.96 95% interval: 0.47 – 1.46 Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_90 Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff) Not Available Hospital score: — SIR Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: HAI_6_SIR Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards) Not Available Hospital score: — SIR Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: HAI_2_SIR Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards) Not Available Hospital score: — SIR Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: HAI_1_SIR Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patients Not Available Hospital score: Reporting period: 04/01/2021 – 03/31/2024 CMS measure id: COMP_HIP_KNEE MRSA Bacteremia Not Available Hospital score: — SIR Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: HAI_5_SIR Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate Number of Cases Too Small Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_10 Postoperative respiratory failure rate Number of Cases Too Small Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_11 Postoperative sepsis rate Number of Cases Too Small Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_13 SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy Not Available Hospital score: — SIR Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: HAI_4_SIR SSI - Colon Surgery Not Available Hospital score: — SIR Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: HAI_3_SIR Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications Not Available Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_04 Postoperative wound dehiscence rate Number of Cases Too Small Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: PSI_14

Readmissions

Better than National Average

Measures how often patients return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. Lower readmission rates suggest effective treatment and discharge planning.

Underlying measures: 30-day Readmission, COPD Better than expected Hospital score: 0.92 Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: READM-30-COPD-HRRP 30-day Readmission, Pneumonia Better than expected Hospital score: 0.92 Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: READM-30-PN-HRRP 30-day Readmission, Heart Failure As expected Hospital score: 1.01 Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: READM-30-HF-HRRP 30-day Readmission, Bypass Surgery Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: READM-30-CABG-HRRP 30-day Readmission, Heart Attack Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: READM-30-AMI-HRRP 30-day Readmission, Hip/Knee Replacement Hospital score: Reporting period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 CMS measure id: READM-30-HIP-KNEE-HRRP

Patient Experience

Based on the HCAHPS survey — patient satisfaction with communication, cleanliness, pain management, and discharge information.

Patient survey detail — the questions feeding the Patient Experience domain above expand ↓

CMS computes the Patient Experience domain from the federal HCAHPS survey. Each bar below is one survey question; the percentage is the share of Northwest's recent patients who gave the most positive response. HCAHPS percentages aren't directly comparable across all measures — see the methodology page for how CMS weights them.

  • Communication with Nurses 67%
  • Communication with Doctors 81%
  • Hospital Cleanliness 76%
  • Hospital Quietness 72%
  • Staff Responsiveness N/A
  • Discharge Information 92%
  • Overall Hospital Rating (9 or 10) 61%
  • Would Recommend Hospital 70%

Percentages represent patients who gave the most positive response. Survey conducted by CMS through the HCAHPS program.

Timely & Effective Care

Below National Average

Measures how quickly the hospital provides important treatments such as antibiotics for pneumonia or interventions for heart attacks.

Underlying measures: Average (median) time psychiatric/mental health patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit. A lower number of minutes is better Better than ~75% of hospitals Hospital score: 156.00 min National median: 248.00 min (lower is better) Sample size: 19 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: OP_18c Severe Sepsis 6-Hour Bundle Better than ~75% of hospitals Hospital score: 100.00 % National median: 94.00 % (higher is better) Sample size: 34 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: SEV_SEP_6HR Endoscopy/polyp surveillance: appropriate follow-up interval for normal colonoscopy in average risk patients Near the national median Hospital score: 98.00 % National median: 97.00 % (higher is better) Sample size: 46 Reporting period: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024 CMS measure id: OP_29 Safe Use of Opioids - Concurrent Prescribing Near the national median Hospital score: 17.00 % National median: 15.00 % (lower is better) Sample size: 156 Reporting period: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024 CMS measure id: SAFE_USE_OF_OPIOIDS Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, excluding patients transferred to another facility or psychiatric care/mental health patients. A lower number of minutes is better Near the national median Hospital score: 134.00 min National median: 148.00 min (lower is better) Sample size: 669 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: OP_18b Average (median) time all patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, including psychiatric/mental health patients and patients who were transferred to another facility. A lower number of minutes is better Near the national median Hospital score: 149.00 min National median: 154.00 min (lower is better) Sample size: 771 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: OP_18a Head CT results Near the national median Hospital score: 64.00 % National median: 74.00 % (higher is better) Sample size: 11 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: OP_23 Appropriate care for severe sepsis and septic shock Near the national median Hospital score: 67.00 % National median: 64.00 % (higher is better) Sample size: 48 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: SEP_1 Severe Sepsis 3-Hour Bundle Near the national median Hospital score: 83.00 % National median: 81.00 % (higher is better) Sample size: 48 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: SEV_SEP_3HR Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Near the national median Hospital score: 95.00 % National median: 90.00 % (higher is better) Sample size: 555 Reporting period: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024 CMS measure id: VTE_1 Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before being transferred to another facility. A lower number of minutes is better Worse than ~75% of hospitals Hospital score: 422.00 min National median: 294.00 min (lower is better) Sample size: 84 Reporting period: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 CMS measure id: OP_18d Left before being seen Worse than ~75% of hospitals Hospital score: 4.00 % National median: 1.00 % (lower is better) Sample size: 11,379 Reporting period: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024 CMS measure id: OP_22 Hospital Harm - Severe Hyperglycemia Worse than ~75% of hospitals Hospital score: 12.00 % National median: 8.00 % (lower is better) Sample size: 1,003 Reporting period: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024 CMS measure id: HH_HYPER Hospital Harm - Severe Hypoglycemia Worse than ~75% of hospitals Hospital score: 2.00 % National median: 1.00 % (lower is better) Sample size: 184 Reporting period: 01/01/2024 – 12/31/2024 CMS measure id: HH_HYPO Healthcare workers given influenza vaccination Worse than ~75% of hospitals Hospital score: 51.00 % National median: 79.00 % (higher is better) Sample size: 320 Reporting period: 10/01/2024 – 03/31/2025 CMS measure id: IMM_3

Psychiatric Unit Quality (IPFQR)

Northwest Medical Center operates a Medicare-certified inpatient psychiatric unit that reports under the federal IPFQR program. The measures below are specific to that unit — not the hospital as a whole. They cover restraint and seclusion use, screening for medication side effects, substance-use and tobacco treatment, transitions of care, follow-up after discharge, and readmissions.

Physical Restraint Use 0.0 hours per 1,000 patient-hours
National median: 0.1 hours Near national median

HBIPS-2 — hours of physical restraint use per 1,000 patient-hours. Lower is better; restraints carry physical and psychological risks.

Seclusion Use 0.0 hours per 1,000 patient-hours
National median: 0.0 hours Near national median

HBIPS-3 — hours of seclusion per 1,000 patient-hours. Lower is better; seclusion is used only when no other intervention works.

Metabolic Screening (SMD) 88.0 %
National median: 92.0 % Near national median

SMD — % of patients on antipsychotics screened for metabolic side effects (BMI, blood glucose, cholesterol). Antipsychotics raise metabolic-syndrome risk; screening catches it early.

Transition Record Completed 93.0 %
National median: 77.0 % Better than national median

TR-1 — % of discharges with a completed transition record including medications, follow-up plan, and crisis instructions.

30-Day Readmission Rate 16.2 %
National median: 19.1 % Better than national median

READM-30-IPF — risk-standardized 30-day readmission rate. No Different Than the National Rate

Influenza Immunization 89.0 %
National median: 87.0 % Near national median

IMM-2 — % of patients given a flu vaccine during the inpatient stay.

Source: CMS Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Program. Reporting period ending 12/31/2024.

Pricing & Costs

Facility Information

Facility type
Acute Care Hospitals
Ownership
Proprietary
Emergency services
Yes — 24/7

Nearby Hospitals

About this data

Quality and ratings data are sourced from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare program. Star ratings are CMS's own calculation; CareRanks does not modify or re-weight them. Facility-level details (address, beds, ownership, teaching status) come from CMS provider files and the CMS Provider of Services file.

Pricing data, where shown, is drawn from the hospital's own Machine-Readable File (MRF) published under the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule. See our methodology for the full update cadence and limitations.

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