JCIPatientSafety.orgHospital Quality Directory

Acute Care Hospitals · Government - Hospital District or Authority

Palomar Health Downtown Campus

3 / 5

At a glance

Palomar Health Downtown Campus carries a 3-star CMS overall rating — in line with the national norm. On healthcare-associated infection measures, it performs better than the national average on 6 and worse on 0.

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.

MeasureScoreCompared to national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit0.011Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit1.055Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days4851Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases4.675Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases1Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)0.214Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit0.637Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit1.999Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days9347Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases10.207Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases12Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)1.176Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Lower Confidence Limit0.926Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit4.187Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures118Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases3.307Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases7Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery2.117Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Lower Confidence LimitNot available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Upper Confidence LimitNot available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Number of Procedures63Not available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases0.548Not available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases2Not available
SSI - Abdominal HysterectomyNot available
MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence Limit0.127Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence Limit1.359Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days103991Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases6.009Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases3Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia0.499Same as national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence Limit0.195Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit0.542Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days97007Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases44.589Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases15Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)0.336Better 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.

MeasureScoreCompared to nationalSample
Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patients3.6Same as national27
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate3.8Same as national1641
Death rate for heart attack patients13.1Same as national187
Death rate for CABG surgery patients2.7Same as national33
Death rate for COPD patients10.8Same as national95
Death rate for heart failure patients12.8Same as national313
Death rate for pneumonia patients16.6Same as national503
Death rate for stroke patients13.7Same as national219
Pressure ulcer rate0.79Same as national5775
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications215.31Same as national113
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate0.20Same as national6632
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate0.29Same as national6431
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate2.64Same as national1519
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate1.44Same as national355
Postoperative respiratory failure rate5.75Same as national363
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate2.65Same as national1527
Postoperative sepsis rate6.13Same as national328
Postoperative wound dehiscence rate2.28Same as national277
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate1.11Same as national1134
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite0.94Same 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.

MeasureScoreCompared to nationalSample
Hospital return days for heart attack patients7.9Not available199
Hospital return days for heart failure patients26Not available363
Hospital return days for pneumonia patients-18.2Not available503
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR)14Same as national2710
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)13Same as national102
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy9.7Same as national46
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy4.9Same as national46
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery0.9Same as national320
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate13.8Same as national199
Rate of readmission for CABG10.2Same as national31
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients17.5Same as national93
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate21.5Same as national363
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacement5.5Same as national29
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate13.8Same as national503

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.

MeasureScoreSample
Nurse communication - star rating32367
Doctor communication - star rating22367
Communication about medicines - star rating22367
Discharge information - star rating32367
Cleanliness - star rating22367
Quietness - star rating22367
Overall hospital rating - star rating32367
Recommend hospital - star rating32367
Summary star rating32367

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.

MeasureScoreSample
Emergency department volumevery 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
Hospital Harm - Opioid Related Adverse Events
Healthcare workers given influenza vaccination615314
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 better228370
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 better221341
Average (median) time psychiatric/mental health patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit. A lower number of minutes is better29121
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 seen288710
Head CT results6411
Endoscopy/polyp surveillance: appropriate follow-up interval for normal colonoscopy in average risk patients10022
Improvement in Patient's Visual Function within 90 Days Following Cataract Surgery
ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)7443
Safe Use of Opioids - Concurrent Prescribing115393
Appropriate care for severe sepsis and septic shock68118
Septic Shock 3-Hour Bundle8945
Septic Shock 6-Hour Bundle9329
Severe Sepsis 3-Hour Bundle81118
Severe Sepsis 6-Hour Bundle9181
Discharged on Antithrombotic Therapy95307
Anticoagulation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter
Antithrombotic Therapy by End of Hospital Day 2
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis849589
Intensive Care Unit Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis931986

Maternal Health

lower is better · 4 measures reported

Measures of maternal outcomes and safe delivery practices, including severe complications during childbirth.

MeasureScoreSample
Cesarean Birth
Risk Adjusted Severe Obstetric Complications (All)
Risk Adjusted Severe Obstetric Complications (excluding blood-transfusion-only cases)
Maternal Morbidity Structural MeasureNo

Frequently asked questions

How is Palomar Health Downtown Campus rated?
Palomar Health Downtown Campus has a 3 out of 5 CMS overall star rating as of the latest CMS release.
Does Palomar Health Downtown Campus have emergency services?
Yes. Palomar Health Downtown Campus operates a 24/7 emergency department.
Where is Palomar Health Downtown Campus located?
Palomar Health Downtown Campus is located at 555 East Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025.
What type of hospital is Palomar Health Downtown Campus?
Palomar Health Downtown Campus is classified by CMS as a Acute Care Hospitals facility (Government - Hospital District or Authority).

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.

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