Acute Care Hospitals · Voluntary non-profit - Private
Lowell General Hospital
- 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854
- (978) 937-6000
- Acute Care Hospitals
- Emergency services available 24/7
At a glance
Lowell General Hospital carries a 2-star CMS overall rating — below the national norm. On healthcare-associated infection measures, it performs better than the national average on 12 and worse on 6. For 30-day readmissions, it beats the national rate on 0 measures and trails on 1.
Healthcare-Associated Infections
lower is better · 36 measures reported
Rates of infections patients can acquire while receiving care, such as central-line and catheter-associated infections, MRSA, and C. difficile.
| Measure | Score | Compared to national |
|---|---|---|
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit | 0.430 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit | 1.945 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days | 7313 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases | 7.120 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases | 7 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards) | 0.983 | Same as national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit | 0.440 | Same as national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit | 1.800 | Same as national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days | 7440 | Same as national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases | 8.439 | Same as national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases | 8 | Same as national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards) | 0.948 | Same as national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Lower Confidence Limit | 1.268 | Worse than national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit | 4.192 | Worse than national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures | 167 | Worse than national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases | 4.561 | Worse than national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases | 11 | Worse than national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery | 2.412 | Worse than national |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Lower Confidence Limit | — | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Upper Confidence Limit | — | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Number of Procedures | 28 | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases | 0.230 | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases | 0 | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy | — | Not available |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence Limit | 0.049 | Better than national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence Limit | 0.963 | Better than national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days | 101978 | Better than national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases | 6.865 | Better than national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases | 2 | Better than national |
| MRSA Bacteremia | 0.291 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence Limit | 0.270 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit | 0.704 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days | 96036 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases | 37.886 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases | 17 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff) | 0.449 | Better than national |
Complications & Deaths
lower is better · 20 measures reported
Rates of serious complications (like hip/knee replacement problems or accidental cuts during surgery) and 30-day mortality rates for common conditions.
| Measure | Score | Compared to national | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patients | 2.7 | Same as national | 110 |
| Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate | 3.7 | Same as national | 2315 |
| Death rate for heart attack patients | 11.5 | Same as national | 256 |
| Death rate for CABG surgery patients | — | Not available | — |
| Death rate for COPD patients | 8.9 | Same as national | 295 |
| Death rate for heart failure patients | 10.2 | Same as national | 891 |
| Death rate for pneumonia patients | 17 | Same as national | 705 |
| Death rate for stroke patients | 17.3 | Worse than national | 251 |
| Pressure ulcer rate | 0.63 | Same as national | 7889 |
| Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications | 188.16 | Same as national | 84 |
| Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate | 0.22 | Same as national | 10384 |
| In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate | 0.40 | Same as national | 10361 |
| Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate | 2.33 | Same as national | 1575 |
| Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate | 1.91 | Same as national | 543 |
| Postoperative respiratory failure rate | 9.78 | Same as national | 539 |
| Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate | 7.50 | Worse than national | 1606 |
| Postoperative sepsis rate | 5.19 | Same as national | 524 |
| Postoperative wound dehiscence rate | 1.60 | Same as national | 416 |
| Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate | 0.78 | Same as national | 1483 |
| CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite | 1.20 | Same as national | — |
Unplanned Hospital Visits & Readmissions
lower is better · 14 measures reported
How often patients return to the hospital unexpectedly within 30 days of discharge — a marker of care quality and discharge planning.
| Measure | Score | Compared to national | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital return days for heart attack patients | 25.2 | Not available | 214 |
| Hospital return days for heart failure patients | 13.1 | Not available | 1027 |
| Hospital return days for pneumonia patients | 24.6 | Not available | 731 |
| Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR) | 16.1 | Worse than national | 3905 |
| Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies) | 12.7 | Same as national | 845 |
| Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy | 11.4 | Same as national | 293 |
| Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy | 5.6 | Same as national | 293 |
| Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery | 0.8 | Same as national | 665 |
| Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate | 15 | Same as national | 214 |
| Rate of readmission for CABG | — | Not available | — |
| Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients | 20.4 | Same as national | 340 |
| Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate | 20.9 | Same as national | 1027 |
| Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacement | 4.7 | Same as national | 102 |
| Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate | 17.7 | Same as national | 731 |
Patient Experience (HCAHPS)
higher is better · 9 measures reported
What patients say about their hospital stay — communication with nurses and doctors, responsiveness, cleanliness, pain management, and whether they would recommend the hospital.
| Measure | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse communication - star rating | 3 | 719 |
| Doctor communication - star rating | 3 | 719 |
| Communication about medicines - star rating | 2 | 719 |
| Discharge information - star rating | 3 | 719 |
| Cleanliness - star rating | 3 | 719 |
| Quietness - star rating | 2 | 719 |
| Overall hospital rating - star rating | 2 | 719 |
| Recommend hospital - star rating | 3 | 719 |
| Summary star rating | 3 | 719 |
Timely & Effective Care
higher is better (unless a wait time) · 30 measures reported
How consistently hospitals follow recommended care processes — for example, giving heart-attack patients aspirin on arrival, or the average time spent in the emergency department.
| Measure | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency department volume | very high | — |
| Global Malnutrition Composite Score | — | — |
| Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Malnutrition Diagnosis Documented | — | — |
| Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Malnutrition Risk Screening | — | — |
| Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Nutrition Assessment | — | — |
| Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Nutritional Care Plan | — | — |
| Hospital Harm - Severe Hyperglycemia | — | — |
| Hospital Harm - Severe Hypoglycemia | 1 | 4463 |
| Hospital Harm - Opioid Related Adverse Events | — | — |
| Healthcare workers given influenza vaccination | 95 | 9278 |
| 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 | 262 | 393 |
| 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 | 262 | 362 |
| Average (median) time psychiatric/mental health patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit. A lower number of minutes is better | 326 | 31 |
| Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before being transferred to another facility. A lower number of minutes is better | — | — |
| Left before being seen | 9 | 88827 |
| Head CT results | 73 | 26 |
| Endoscopy/polyp surveillance: appropriate follow-up interval for normal colonoscopy in average risk patients | 99 | 132 |
| Improvement in Patient's Visual Function within 90 Days Following Cataract Surgery | — | — |
| ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) | 50 | 32 |
| Safe Use of Opioids - Concurrent Prescribing | 22 | 4045 |
| Appropriate care for severe sepsis and septic shock | 62 | 118 |
| Septic Shock 3-Hour Bundle | 74 | 43 |
| Septic Shock 6-Hour Bundle | 91 | 23 |
| Severe Sepsis 3-Hour Bundle | 78 | 118 |
| Severe Sepsis 6-Hour Bundle | 93 | 69 |
| Discharged on Antithrombotic Therapy | 95 | 266 |
| Anticoagulation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter | — | — |
| Antithrombotic Therapy by End of Hospital Day 2 | 90 | 245 |
| Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis | — | — |
| Intensive Care Unit Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis | — | — |
Maternal Health
lower is better · 4 measures reported
Measures of maternal outcomes and safe delivery practices, including severe complications during childbirth.
| Measure | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Cesarean Birth | — | — |
| Risk Adjusted Severe Obstetric Complications (All) | — | — |
| Risk Adjusted Severe Obstetric Complications (excluding blood-transfusion-only cases) | — | — |
| Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure | Yes | — |
Frequently asked questions
- How is Lowell General Hospital rated?
- Lowell General Hospital has a 2 out of 5 CMS overall star rating as of the latest CMS release.
- Does Lowell General Hospital have emergency services?
- Yes. Lowell General Hospital operates a 24/7 emergency department.
- Where is Lowell General Hospital located?
- Lowell General Hospital is located at 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854.
- What type of hospital is Lowell General Hospital?
- Lowell General Hospital is classified by CMS as a Acute Care Hospitals facility (Voluntary non-profit - Private).
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Data as of 2026-06-14. Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog. This is public data provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. See our methodology and editorial policy.