Acute Care Hospitals · Voluntary non-profit - Other
St Joseph Hospital
- 2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225
- (360) 734-5400
- Acute Care Hospitals
- Emergency services available 24/7
At a glance
St Joseph Hospital carries a 4-star CMS overall rating — above the national norm. On healthcare-associated infection measures, it performs better than the national average on 12 and worse on 0. For 30-day readmissions, it beats the national rate on 1 measure and trails 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.
| Measure | Score | Compared to national |
|---|---|---|
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit | 0.125 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit | 1.335 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days | 7712 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases | 6.114 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases | 3 | Same as national |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards) | 0.491 | Same as national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit | 0.010 | Better than national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit | 0.973 | Better than national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days | 5915 | Better than national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases | 5.067 | Better than national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases | 1 | Better than national |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards) | 0.197 | Better than national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Lower Confidence Limit | 0.072 | Same as national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit | 1.412 | Same as national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures | 204 | Same as national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases | 4.679 | Same as national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases | 2 | Same as national |
| SSI - Colon Surgery | 0.427 | Same as national |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Lower Confidence Limit | — | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Upper Confidence Limit | — | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Number of Procedures | 58 | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases | 0.482 | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases | 0 | Not available |
| SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy | — | Not available |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence Limit | 0.012 | Same as national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence Limit | 1.171 | Same as national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days | 70234 | Same as national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases | 4.211 | Same as national |
| MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases | 1 | Same as national |
| MRSA Bacteremia | 0.237 | Same as national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence Limit | 0.250 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit | 0.749 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days | 66717 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases | 28.938 | Better than national |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases | 13 | 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 | 3.3 | Same as national | 126 |
| Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate | 3.8 | Same as national | 2271 |
| Death rate for heart attack patients | 12.3 | Same as national | 364 |
| Death rate for CABG surgery patients | 2.4 | Same as national | 115 |
| Death rate for COPD patients | 10.8 | Same as national | 120 |
| Death rate for heart failure patients | 10.6 | Same as national | 591 |
| Death rate for pneumonia patients | 12.3 | Better than national | 540 |
| Death rate for stroke patients | 12.3 | Same as national | 275 |
| Pressure ulcer rate | 0.49 | Same as national | 6221 |
| Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications | 161.88 | Same as national | 91 |
| Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate | 0.18 | Same as national | 8007 |
| In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate | 0.24 | Same as national | 8252 |
| Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate | 1.76 | Same as national | 1816 |
| Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate | 1.64 | Same as national | 663 |
| Postoperative respiratory failure rate | 6.02 | Same as national | 673 |
| Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate | 3.44 | Same as national | 2014 |
| Postoperative sepsis rate | 3.31 | Same as national | 665 |
| Postoperative wound dehiscence rate | 1.54 | Same as national | 360 |
| Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate | 0.76 | Same as national | 1554 |
| CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite | 0.77 | 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 | 4.9 | Not available | 382 |
| Hospital return days for heart failure patients | -14.4 | Not available | 671 |
| Hospital return days for pneumonia patients | 0.3 | Not available | 564 |
| Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR) | 13.2 | Better than national | 3511 |
| Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies) | 13.7 | Same as national | 429 |
| Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy | 12.7 | Same as national | 299 |
| Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy | 5.6 | Same as national | 299 |
| Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery | 1.1 | Same as national | 1008 |
| Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate | 13.4 | Same as national | 382 |
| Rate of readmission for CABG | 10.6 | Same as national | 114 |
| Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients | 17.3 | Same as national | 131 |
| Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate | 17.3 | Same as national | 671 |
| Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacement | 4.1 | Same as national | 131 |
| Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate | 14.7 | Same as national | 564 |
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 | 417 |
| Doctor communication - star rating | 3 | 417 |
| Communication about medicines - star rating | 2 | 417 |
| Discharge information - star rating | 4 | 417 |
| Cleanliness - star rating | 2 | 417 |
| Quietness - star rating | 1 | 417 |
| Overall hospital rating - star rating | 2 | 417 |
| Recommend hospital - star rating | 3 | 417 |
| Summary star rating | 3 | 417 |
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 | — | — |
| Hospital Harm - Opioid Related Adverse Events | — | — |
| Healthcare workers given influenza vaccination | 89 | 4831 |
| 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 | 214 | 376 |
| 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 | 211 | 344 |
| Average (median) time psychiatric/mental health patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit. A lower number of minutes is better | 386 | 24 |
| 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 | 3 | 71471 |
| Head CT results | 64 | 33 |
| Endoscopy/polyp surveillance: appropriate follow-up interval for normal colonoscopy in average risk patients | 85 | 39 |
| Improvement in Patient's Visual Function within 90 Days Following Cataract Surgery | — | — |
| ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) | — | — |
| Safe Use of Opioids - Concurrent Prescribing | 15 | 4308 |
| Appropriate care for severe sepsis and septic shock | 57 | 162 |
| Septic Shock 3-Hour Bundle | 53 | 62 |
| Septic Shock 6-Hour Bundle | 84 | 25 |
| Severe Sepsis 3-Hour Bundle | 84 | 162 |
| Severe Sepsis 6-Hour Bundle | 92 | 106 |
| Discharged on Antithrombotic Therapy | 99 | 286 |
| Anticoagulation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter | — | — |
| Antithrombotic Therapy by End of Hospital Day 2 | — | — |
| Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis | 96 | 8259 |
| Intensive Care Unit Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis | 93 | 1696 |
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 St Joseph Hospital rated?
- St Joseph Hospital has a 4 out of 5 CMS overall star rating as of the latest CMS release.
- Does St Joseph Hospital have emergency services?
- Yes. St Joseph Hospital operates a 24/7 emergency department.
- Where is St Joseph Hospital located?
- St Joseph Hospital is located at 2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225.
- What type of hospital is St Joseph Hospital?
- St Joseph Hospital is classified by CMS as a Acute Care Hospitals facility (Voluntary non-profit - Other).
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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.