Hospital Profile

Northside Hospital Cherokee

Q: What does a 4-star rating mean for Northside Hospital Cherokee?

CMS rates hospitals 1-5 stars based on mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience, and timely care.

Q: Does Northside Hospital Cherokee have an emergency room?

Yes, it operates an emergency department.

Q: Does Northside Hospital Cherokee accept Medicare?

Yes. All hospitals on Medicare Hospital Compare are Medicare-certified. Check your specific plan for in-network status.

450 Northside Cherokee Boulevard
Canton, GA 30115

★★★★☆

4/5 CMS Overall Rating

Licensed Beds

Acute Care

Hospital Type

838

Affiliated Doctors

Moderate

Critical Care

0.4:1

Nurse-to-Bed Ratio

Quick Actions

📞 Call Hospital 🗺️ Get Directions 🏛️ View on Medicare.gov 👨‍⚕️ Find Doctors

(770) 244-1000

Data Source: Hospital data from CMS Hospital Compare (February 2026) and Provider of Services file (Q4 2025). Doctor affiliations from CMS Physician Compare. Quality measures are updated quarterly.
Reviewed by: Wes Ward, Founder & Data Lead • View our methodology

Hospital Details

Northside Hospital Cherokee is a 4.00-star acute care hospital located in Canton, Georgia with 84 licensed beds.

A 4-star CMS rating places Northside Hospital Cherokee above the national average for overall quality. 838 physicians are affiliated with this facility, and it provides emergency services. Its critical care footprint covers 4 of 8 unit types (Moderate) with a 0.4:1 nurse-to-bed ratio.

Hospital Type	Acute Care Hospitals
Ownership	Voluntary non-profit - Other
Teaching Status	Non-Teaching Hospital

Quality Ratings & Measures

CMS evaluates hospitals across five quality domains. Here's how Northside Hospital Cherokee compares:

⭐

Overall Rating

of 5 stars

💔

Better than National

Mortality

2 of 6 better

🛡️

Better than National

Safety

1 of 8 better

🔄

Same as National

Readmission

0 of 10 better

😊

All 8 domains reported

Patient Experience

8 measures

💰

0.9400

Medicare Spending Index (MSPB)

Below National Avg (Lower Spending)

Quality data from CMS Hospital Compare. "Better than national" means statistically significantly better than the national average. Spending uses the CMS MSPB measure (Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary) index, where 1.000 is national average and values above/below 1.000 indicate higher/lower spending.

Patient Experience (HCAHPS Survey)

The HCAHPS survey is a standardized, national survey of hospital patients. It measures how patients perceive their care — including communication with doctors and nurses, responsiveness of staff, cleanliness, and discharge information. Higher percentages indicate better performance.

Measure	Score	Star Rating
Patients who reported that their room and bathroom were "Always" clean	86%	N/A
Patients who reported that their room and bathroom were "Sometimes" or "Never" clean	3%	N/A
Patients who reported that their room and bathroom were "Usually" clean	11%	N/A
Cleanliness - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Cleanliness - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★★★ (5)
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" communicated well	83%	N/A
Nurse communication - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated well	3%	N/A
Nurse communication - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" communicated well	14%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" communicated well	79%	N/A
Doctor communication - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated well	5%	N/A
Doctor communication - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" communicated well	16%	N/A
Patients who reported that staff "Always" explained about medicines before giving it to them	63%	N/A
Communication about medicines - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Patients who reported that staff "Sometimes" or "Never" explained about medicines before giving it to them	18%	N/A
Communication about medicines - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported that staff "Usually" explained about medicines before giving it to them	19%	N/A
Discharge information - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Patients who reported that NO, they were not given information about what to do during their recovery at home	9%	N/A
Discharge information - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported that YES, they were given information about what to do during their recovery at home	91%	N/A
Patients who reported that NO, they did not discuss whether they would need help after discharge	11%	N/A
Patients who reported that YES, they did discuss whether they would need help after discharge	89%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" explained things in a way they could understand	74%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" explained things in a way they could understand	6%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" explained things in a way they could understand	20%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" listened carefully to them	78%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" listened carefully to them	5%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" listened carefully to them	17%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" treated them with courtesy and respect	86%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" treated them with courtesy and respect	3%	N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" treated them with courtesy and respect	11%	N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 6 or lower on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)	4%	N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 7 or 8 on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)	10%	N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)	86%	N/A
Overall hospital rating - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Overall hospital rating - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★★★ (5)
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Always" communicated what the medication was for	76%	N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated what the medication was for	7%	N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Usually" communicated what the medication was for.	17%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" explained things in a way they could understand	78%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" explained things in a way they could understand	4%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" explained things in a way they could understand	18%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" listened carefully to them	80%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" listened carefully to them	2%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" listened carefully to them	18%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" treated them with courtesy and respect	90%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" treated them with courtesy and respect	1%	N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" treated them with courtesy and respect	9%	N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Always" quiet at night	66%	N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Sometimes" or "Never" quiet at night	5%	N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Usually" quiet at night	29%	N/A
Quietness - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Quietness - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported NO, they would probably not or definitely not recommend the hospital	2%	N/A
Patients who reported YES, they would definitely recommend the hospital	87%	N/A
Recommend hospital - linear mean score	Not Applicable%	N/A
Patients who reported YES, they would probably recommend the hospital	11%	N/A
Recommend hospital - star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★★★ (5)
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Always" discussed possible side effects	49%	N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Sometimes" or "Never" discussed possible side effects	29%	N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Usually" discussed possible side effects	22%	N/A
Summary star rating	Not Applicable%	★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported that NO, they did not receive written information about possible symptoms to look out for after discharge	8%	N/A
Patients who reported that YES, they did receive written information about possible symptoms to look out for after discharge	92%	N/A

Survey response rate: 21% (2929 surveys completed). Data from 04/01/2024 to 03/31/2025 .

Services & Specialties

Northside Hospital Cherokee offers the following services based on CMS Provider of Services data:

Emergency & Critical Care

Northside Hospital Cherokee offers 4 of 8 possible critical care capabilities, classified as Moderate. Moderate critical care (3–5 unit types) covers many common emergencies but may require transfers for specialized trauma, burns, or pediatric/neonatal intensive care. Consider whether your likely health needs are covered.

🚨 Emergency Department

🏥 Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

❤️ Coronary Care Unit (CCU)

🍼 Neonatal ICU (NICU)

Surgical Services

🏥 Inpatient Surgery

🏢 Outpatient Surgery

✨ Reconstructive Surgery

👁️ Ophthalmic Surgery

Specialty Services

🤰 Obstetrics (OB)

👶 Neonatal Nursery

🧒 Pediatric Services

💉 Chemotherapy

🌬️ Respiratory Care

Service availability is self-reported by the facility. Confirm specific services directly with the hospital. Use our printable question list to prepare for the conversation.

Bed Count, Capacity & Staffing

Northside Hospital Cherokee has 84 licensed beds (84 Medicare-certified) with a nurse-to-bed ratio of 0.4:1. Higher ratios generally indicate more nursing staff per patient, which research links to better outcomes in medication errors, patient falls, and response times.

Bed Type	Count
Total Licensed Beds	84
CMS Certified Beds	84

Staffing snapshot: 838 affiliated physicians • 32 registered nurses

Doctors Affiliated with Northside Hospital Cherokee

838 physicians are affiliated with Northside Hospital Cherokee, including 126 surgeons. Doctor affiliations are sourced from CMS Physician Compare data and indicate physicians who have a formal relationship with this hospital.

838

Total Doctors

168

Procedural Specialists

126

Surgeons

Featured Affiliated Physicians

Aldo J. Espinoza

Cataract surgery

NPI: 1326420183

Charles A. Decook

Knee replacement

NPI: 1386794113

Nandhakumar Kanagarajan

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for acid reflux

NPI: 1902819667

Paul R. Jeffords

Spinal fusion

NPI: 1033106570

Agnes H. Han

Colonoscopy

NPI: 1841268364

Michael R. Galambos

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for acid reflux

NPI: 1356345011

Showing 838 of 838 affiliated physicians. Doctor affiliations from CMS Physician Compare data.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)

Healthcare-associated infections are one of the most important safety metrics when evaluating a hospital. These infections are acquired during a hospital stay, not the reason for admission. CMS tracks rates for specific infection types and compares each hospital to the national benchmark.

Infection Type	Score (SIR)	vs. National
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit	0.088	Better than the National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit	0.946	Better than the National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days	8253	Better than the National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases	8.630	Better than the National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases	3	Better than the National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)	0.348	Better than the National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit	0.116	Better than the National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit	0.884	Better than the National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days	8762	Better than the National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases	10.915	Better than the National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases	4	Better than the National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)	0.366	Better than the National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Lower Confidence Limit	1.797	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit	3.733	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures	433	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases	11.011	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases	29	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery	2.634	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Lower Confidence Limit	2.675	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Upper Confidence Limit	7.421	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Number of Procedures	394	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases	3.259	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases	15	Worse than the National Benchmark
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy	4.603	Worse than the National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence Limit	0.127	No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence Limit	1.364	No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days	111347	No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases	5.986	No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases	3	No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia	0.501	No Different than National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence Limit	0.223	Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit	0.550	Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days	98946	Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases	52.935	Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases	19	Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)	0.359	Better than the National Benchmark

How to read this: "Better than national" means the hospital's infection rate is statistically significantly lower than the national average — a sign of strong infection-control protocols (hand hygiene, sterilization, catheter management). "Worse than national" may warrant asking the hospital about their improvement initiatives.

Infection data reported to the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Complications & Deaths

CMS tracks post-surgical complications and mortality rates for common procedures and conditions (heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, hip/knee replacement, and more). These measures reflect how patients actually fare at this hospital compared to the national average.

Measure	Score	Patients	vs. National
Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patients	3.9	77	No Different Than the National Rate
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate	3.3	2,075	Better Than the National Rate
Death rate for heart attack patients	13.3	197	No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for CABG surgery patients	N/A	N/A	Number of Cases Too Small
Death rate for COPD patients	8.3	175	No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for heart failure patients	10.5	504	No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for pneumonia patients	12.4	568	Better Than the National Rate
Death rate for stroke patients	10.1	174	No Different Than the National Rate
Pressure ulcer rate	0.49	6,731	No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications	185.88	76	No Different Than the National Rate
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate	0.28	8,061	No Different Than the National Rate
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate	0.31	8,162	No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate	2.97	1,745	No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate	1.83	771	No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative respiratory failure rate	20.39	775	Worse Than the National Rate
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate	2.93	1,842	No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative sepsis rate	6.24	721	No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative wound dehiscence rate	1.57	516	No Different Than the National Rate
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate	1.23	1,835	No Different Than the National Rate
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite	1.29	N/A	No Different Than the National Value

What to consider: A "worse than national" rating on mortality or complications is a serious signal — particularly for elective procedures where you have time to choose a facility. For emergency care, proximity and speed often outweigh these metrics. Ask the hospital about their outcomes for your specific procedure.

Readmissions & Unplanned Hospital Visits

A readmission means a patient returned to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. High readmission rates can signal gaps in discharge planning, patient education, or follow-up care coordination. CMS penalizes hospitals with excess readmissions through the HRRP.

Measure	Score	Patients	vs. National
Hospital return days for heart attack patients	-16.4	166	Fewer Days Than Average per 100 Discharges
Hospital return days for heart failure patients	-24.7	559	Fewer Days Than Average per 100 Discharges
Hospital return days for pneumonia patients	9	576	More Days Than Average per 100 Discharges
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR)	14.8	3,521	No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)	15.1	800	No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy	9.1	74	No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy	5.8	74	No Different Than the National Rate
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery	0.9	1,307	No Different than expected
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate	12.5	166	No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of readmission for CABG	N/A	0	Number of Cases Too Small
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients	18.7	188	No Different Than the National Rate
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate	17.8	559	No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacement	4.3	78	No Different Than the National Rate
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate	17	576	No Different Than the National Rate

What to ask: If this hospital has higher-than-average readmission rates, ask about their discharge process — do they provide follow-up appointments, medication reconciliation, and clear care instructions before you leave?

Nearby Hospitals

If Northside Hospital Cherokee isn't in your Medicare plan's network — or you want to compare quality ratings before a procedure — these are the closest alternatives within 15 miles:

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

14.1 miles

★★☆☆☆ 2/5

Roswell, GA · 167 beds

View all hospitals near 30115, GA →

Switching hospitals may mean switching plans. Check the Medicare enrollment timeline to make sure you don't miss your window, and use our enrollment checklist to stay organized.

Location & Directions

Address: 450 Northside Cherokee Boulevard, Canton, GA 30115
Phone: (770) 244-1000

Get directions on Google Maps →

What to Do with This Information

Hospital quality data is most useful when paired with your specific situation. Here's how to act on it:

Check network status: Before choosing this hospital, verify it's in-network for your Medicare Advantage plan. Out-of-network care can cost significantly more.
Ask about specific outcomes: If you're considering an elective procedure, ask the hospital for their outcomes data on that specific surgery — not just overall ratings.
Compare nearby options: Use the nearby hospitals section above to compare quality scores across facilities in the area.
Review your Medicare plan: Your plan's network determines which hospitals you can access affordably. Use our enrollment checklist to stay organized if you're switching plans. Check enrollment deadlines →
Talk to your doctor: Ask your primary care physician which hospitals they're affiliated with and whether they're in-network for your plan. Print our doctor questions checklist →

View on Medicare.gov Compare Medicare Plans in 30115, GA →

Northside Hospital Cherokee: Common Questions

What does a 4-star rating mean for Northside Hospital Cherokee?

CMS rates hospitals on a 1-to-5 star scale based on quality measures across mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience, and timely care. A 4-star rating places this hospital above the national average. The rating is updated quarterly by CMS.

Does Northside Hospital Cherokee have an emergency room?

Yes, Northside Hospital Cherokee operates an emergency department.

How many doctors are affiliated with Northside Hospital Cherokee?

838 physicians are affiliated with this hospital according to CMS Physician Compare data. This includes 126 surgeons.

Does Northside Hospital Cherokee accept Medicare?

Yes. All hospitals listed on Medicare Hospital Compare are Medicare-certified facilities. However, whether this hospital is in-network for your specific Medicare Advantage plan depends on your plan's provider network. Check your plan documents or call your insurer to verify.

How many beds does Northside Hospital Cherokee have?

Northside Hospital Cherokee has 84 licensed beds. Bed count is an indicator of hospital capacity — larger hospitals often offer more specialized services.

Where does the data on this page come from?

All data is sourced from official CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) databases: Hospital Compare for quality measures and star ratings, Provider of Services for beds and services, and Physician Compare for doctor affiliations. Data is updated quarterly. Read our full methodology →

About the Reviewer

Wes Ward

Founder & Data Lead

Wes Ward is the founder of InsuranceDataNow.org and reviews all hospital quality data and methodology for accuracy. Every hospital profile — including the CMS quality measures, infection rates, and doctor affiliations on this page — goes through his data-validation pipeline before publication.

With 25+ years in data analytics — including work with highly regulated genomic data at Ancestry.com — Wes brings enterprise-level rigor to healthcare transparency. He is also a co-founder of BestNeighborhood.org, CrimeGrade.org, and ISPReports.org.

View full profile → • LinkedIn

Data sources: CMS Hospital Compare (February 2026), Provider of Services (Q4 2025), CMS Physician Compare, CDC NHSN. This page is for informational purposes only. Always verify information directly with the hospital. Read our full methodology →

Medicare Resources

Hospital quality data is just one piece of the Medicare puzzle. Explore our guides to make the best decisions for your coverage:

Northside Hospital Cherokee

Quick Actions

Hospital Details

Quality Ratings & Measures

Patient Experience (HCAHPS Survey)

Services & Specialties

Emergency & Critical Care

Surgical Services

Specialty Services

Bed Count, Capacity & Staffing

Doctors Affiliated with Northside Hospital Cherokee

Featured Affiliated Physicians

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)

Complications & Deaths

Readmissions & Unplanned Hospital Visits

Nearby Hospitals

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

Location & Directions

What to Do with This Information

Northside Hospital Cherokee: Common Questions

About the Reviewer

Wes Ward

Medicare Resources

How to Choose a Medicare Plan

Medicare Enrollment Checklist

Enrollment Dates & Deadlines

Questions for Your Doctor

Medicare Glossary

Our Methodology

Northside Hospital Cherokee

Quick Actions

Hospital Details

Quality Ratings & Measures

Patient Experience (HCAHPS Survey)

Services & Specialties

Emergency & Critical Care

Surgical Services

Specialty Services

Bed Count, Capacity & Staffing

Doctors Affiliated with Northside Hospital Cherokee

Featured Affiliated Physicians

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)

Complications & Deaths

Readmissions & Unplanned Hospital Visits

Nearby Hospitals

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

Location & Directions

What to Do with This Information

Northside Hospital Cherokee: Common Questions

About the Reviewer

Wes Ward

Medicare Resources

How to Choose a Medicare Plan

Medicare Enrollment Checklist

Enrollment Dates & Deadlines

Questions for Your Doctor

Medicare Glossary

Our Methodology

Related Pages