JCIPatientSafety.orgHospital Quality Directory

Acute Care Hospitals · Government - Hospital District or Authority

Palomar Medical Center Poway

4 / 5

At a glance

Palomar Medical Center Poway carries a 4-star CMS overall rating — above the national norm.

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 LimitNot available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence LimitNot available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days1575Not available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases0.968Not available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases1Not available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)Not available
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence LimitSame as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit1.323Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days4431Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases2.265Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases0Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)0.000Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Lower Confidence LimitSame as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit1.794Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures68Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases1.670Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases0Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery0.000Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Lower Confidence LimitNot available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Upper Confidence LimitNot available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Number of Procedures27Not available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases0.187Not available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases0Not available
SSI - Abdominal HysterectomyNot available
MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence LimitNot available
MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence LimitNot available
MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days20027Not available
MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases0.829Not available
MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases1Not available
MRSA BacteremiaNot available
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence Limit0.165Same as national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit1.252Same as national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days20027Same as national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases7.709Same as national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases4Same as national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)0.519Same as 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 patientsNot available
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate3.7Same as national575
Death rate for heart attack patientsNot available
Death rate for CABG surgery patientsNot available
Death rate for COPD patients9.7Same as national59
Death rate for heart failure patients12Same as national147
Death rate for pneumonia patients12.9Better than national307
Death rate for stroke patients14.5Same as national56
Pressure ulcer rate0.65Same as national2056
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complicationsNot available
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate0.25Same as national2455
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate0.25Same as national2500
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate2.18Same as national339
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate1.64Same as national98
Postoperative respiratory failure rate7.89Same as national99
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate3.41Same as national346
Postoperative sepsis rate4.90Same as national76
Postoperative wound dehiscence rate1.72Same as national113
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate0.94Same as national412
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 patientsNot available
Hospital return days for heart failure patients-52.9Not available149
Hospital return days for pneumonia patients-3.9Not available308
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR)15.2Same as national936
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)13.2Same as national206
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyNot available
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyNot available
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery1Same as national235
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission RateNot available
Rate of readmission for CABGNot available
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients17.7Same as national65
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate18Same as national149
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacementNot available
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate16.2Same as national308

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 rating3643
Doctor communication - star rating2643
Communication about medicines - star rating2643
Discharge information - star rating2643
Cleanliness - star rating2643
Quietness - star rating1643
Overall hospital rating - star rating2643
Recommend hospital - star rating3643
Summary star rating2643

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 volumemedium
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 vaccination682299
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 better198377
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 better195351
Average (median) time psychiatric/mental health patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit. A lower number of minutes is better23513
Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before being transferred to another facility. A lower number of minutes is better33813
Left before being seen233595
Head CT results8520
Endoscopy/polyp surveillance: appropriate follow-up interval for normal colonoscopy in average risk patients10012
Improvement in Patient's Visual Function within 90 Days Following Cataract Surgery
ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)
Safe Use of Opioids - Concurrent Prescribing151088
Appropriate care for severe sepsis and septic shock6798
Septic Shock 3-Hour Bundle9434
Septic Shock 6-Hour Bundle8323
Severe Sepsis 3-Hour Bundle7998
Severe Sepsis 6-Hour Bundle9760
Discharged on Antithrombotic Therapy
Anticoagulation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter
Antithrombotic Therapy by End of Hospital Day 29375
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis862517
Intensive Care Unit Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis97647

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 MeasureNot Applicable (our hospital does not provide inpatient labor/delivery care)

Frequently asked questions

How is Palomar Medical Center Poway rated?
Palomar Medical Center Poway has a 4 out of 5 CMS overall star rating as of the latest CMS release.
Does Palomar Medical Center Poway have emergency services?
Yes. Palomar Medical Center Poway operates a 24/7 emergency department.
Where is Palomar Medical Center Poway located?
Palomar Medical Center Poway is located at 15615 Pomerado Road, Poway, CA 92064.
What type of hospital is Palomar Medical Center Poway?
Palomar Medical Center Poway 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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