Hospital Profile

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center

2518 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Hiram, GA 30141
★★★★☆
4/5 CMS Overall Rating
83
Licensed Beds
Acute Care
Hospital Type
653
Affiliated Doctors
Limited
Critical Care
0.4:1
Nurse-to-Bed Ratio
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

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center is a 4.00-star acute care hospital located in Hiram, Georgia with 83 licensed beds.

A 4-star CMS rating places Wellstar Paulding Medical Center above the national average for overall quality. 653 physicians are affiliated with this facility.. Note: this facility does not provide emergency services. Its critical care footprint covers 2 of 8 unit types (Limited) 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 Wellstar Paulding Medical Center compares:

4
Overall Rating
of 5 stars
💔
Better than National
Mortality
1 of 6 better
🛡️
Better than National
Safety
1 of 6 better
🔄
Worse than National
Readmission
0 of 7 better
😊
All 8 domains reported
Patient Experience
8 measures
💰
0.8800
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.

MeasureScoreStar Rating
Patients who reported that their room and bathroom were "Always" clean74%N/A
Patients who reported that their room and bathroom were "Sometimes" or "Never" clean8%N/A
Patients who reported that their room and bathroom were "Usually" clean18%N/A
Cleanliness - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Cleanliness - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" communicated well78%N/A
Nurse communication - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated well4%N/A
Nurse communication - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" communicated well18%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" communicated well76%N/A
Doctor communication - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated well5%N/A
Doctor communication - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" communicated well19%N/A
Patients who reported that staff "Always" explained about medicines before giving it to them57%N/A
Communication about medicines - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Patients who reported that staff "Sometimes" or "Never" explained about medicines before giving it to them25%N/A
Communication about medicines - star ratingNot Applicable%★★☆☆☆ (2)
Patients who reported that staff "Usually" explained about medicines before giving it to them18%N/A
Discharge information - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Patients who reported that NO, they were not given information about what to do during their recovery at home16%N/A
Discharge information - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported that YES, they were given information about what to do during their recovery at home84%N/A
Patients who reported that NO, they did not discuss whether they would need help after discharge20%N/A
Patients who reported that YES, they did discuss whether they would need help after discharge80%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" explained things in a way they could understand70%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" explained things in a way they could understand8%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" explained things in a way they could understand22%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" listened carefully to them76%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" listened carefully to them5%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" listened carefully to them19%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" treated them with courtesy and respect83%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" treated them with courtesy and respect2%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" treated them with courtesy and respect15%N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 6 or lower on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)5%N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 7 or 8 on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)19%N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)76%N/A
Overall hospital rating - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Overall hospital rating - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Always" communicated what the medication was for72%N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated what the medication was for11%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 understand72%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" explained things in a way they could understand5%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" explained things in a way they could understand23%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" listened carefully to them77%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" listened carefully to them3%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" listened carefully to them20%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" treated them with courtesy and respect85%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" treated them with courtesy and respect3%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" treated them with courtesy and respect12%N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Always" quiet at night66%N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Sometimes" or "Never" quiet at night8%N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Usually" quiet at night26%N/A
Quietness - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Quietness - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported NO, they would probably not or definitely not recommend the hospital3%N/A
Patients who reported YES, they would definitely recommend the hospital77%N/A
Recommend hospital - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Patients who reported YES, they would probably recommend the hospital20%N/A
Recommend hospital - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★★★ (5)
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Always" discussed possible side effects42%N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Sometimes" or "Never" discussed possible side effects39%N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Usually" discussed possible side effects19%N/A
Summary star ratingNot Applicable%★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported that NO, they did not receive written information about possible symptoms to look out for after discharge12%N/A
Patients who reported that YES, they did receive written information about possible symptoms to look out for after discharge88%N/A

Survey response rate: 20% (554 surveys completed). Data from 04/01/2024 to 03/31/2025 .

Services & Specialties

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center offers the following services based on CMS Provider of Services data:

Emergency & Critical Care

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center offers 2 of 8 possible critical care capabilities, classified as Limited. Limited critical care (1–2 unit types) means this facility can stabilize patients but may need to transfer more serious cases. If you anticipate needing emergency or ICU services frequently, compare nearby alternatives in the nearby hospitals section.

🏥 Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
❤️ Coronary Care Unit (CCU)

Surgical Services

🏥 Inpatient Surgery
🏢 Outpatient Surgery

Specialty Services

🧒 Pediatric Services
🌬️ 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

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center has 83 licensed beds (83 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 Beds83
CMS Certified Beds83
Staffing snapshot: 653 affiliated physicians • 35 registered nurses

Doctors Affiliated with Wellstar Paulding Medical Center

653 physicians are affiliated with Wellstar Paulding Medical Center, including 86 surgeons. Doctor affiliations are sourced from CMS Physician Compare data and indicate physicians who have a formal relationship with this hospital.

653
Total Doctors
142
Procedural Specialists
86
Surgeons

Featured Affiliated Physicians

Gerardo Parada
Cataract surgery
NPI: 1407820194
Ahmed A. Messallam
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for acid reflux
NPI: 1629489547
Basil S. Al-Awabdy
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for acid reflux
NPI: 1134336332
Charles G. Nesmith
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for acid reflux
NPI: 1720263809
Sachin Goel
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for acid reflux
NPI: 1922071208
Raja S. Sappati Biyyani
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for acid reflux
NPI: 1366462160

Showing 653 of 653 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 TypeScore (SIR)vs. National
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit0.014No Different than National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit1.387No Different than National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days5227No Different than National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases3.555No Different than National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases1No Different than National Benchmark
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)0.281No Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence LimitN/ANo Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit1.092No Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days3930No Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases2.744No Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases0No Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)0.000No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Lower Confidence LimitN/ANo Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit1.531No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures70No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases1.957No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases0No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery0.000No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Lower Confidence LimitNot AvailableNot Available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Upper Confidence LimitNot AvailableNot Available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Number of Procedures13Not Available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases0.096Not Available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases0Not Available
SSI - Abdominal HysterectomyNot AvailableNot Available
MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence Limit0.040No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence Limit3.987No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days37895No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases1.237No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases1No Different than National Benchmark
MRSA Bacteremia0.808No Different than National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence Limit0.172Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit0.885Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days37895Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases14.102Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases6Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)0.425Better 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.

MeasureScorePatientsvs. National
Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patientsN/AN/ANot Available
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate3.41,056No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for heart attack patients10.6106No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for CABG surgery patientsN/AN/ANot Available
Death rate for COPD patients9.4129No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for heart failure patients10.2522No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for pneumonia patients13.3429No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for stroke patients11.899No Different Than the National Rate
Pressure ulcer rate0.523,648No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications153.8927No Different Than the National Rate
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate0.234,684No Different Than the National Rate
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate0.284,730No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate2.17371No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate1.6535No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative respiratory failure rate8.5835No Different Than the National Rate
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate4.23412No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative sepsis rate5.0134No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative wound dehiscence rate1.69103No Different Than the National Rate
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate0.95542No Different Than the National Rate
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite0.96N/ANo 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.

MeasureScorePatientsvs. National
Hospital return days for heart attack patients-8.4102Average Days per 100 Discharges
Hospital return days for heart failure patients6.3632Average Days per 100 Discharges
Hospital return days for pneumonia patients17.4447More Days Than Average per 100 Discharges
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR)15.71,742No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)12.9110No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyN/A0Number of Cases Too Small
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyN/A0Number of Cases Too Small
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery0.9313No Different than expected
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate13.4102No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of readmission for CABGN/A0Not Available
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients18.7140No Different Than the National Rate
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate20.7632No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacementN/A0Not Available
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate17.2447No 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 Wellstar Paulding Medical Center 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 Cobb Medical Center

10.6 miles
★★☆☆☆ 2/5
Austell, GA · 382 beds

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center

11.5 miles
★★★☆☆ 3/5
Douglasville, GA · 108 beds

Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica

13.3 miles
★★☆☆☆ 2/5
Villa Rica, GA · 40 beds

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center

13.9 miles
★★★★☆ 4/5
Marietta, GA · 633 beds

View all hospitals near 30141, 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: 2518 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, Hiram, GA 30141
Phone: (470) 644-7000

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 30141, GA →

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center: Common Questions

What does a 4-star rating mean for Wellstar Paulding Medical Center?

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 Wellstar Paulding Medical Center have an emergency room?

No, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center does not have emergency services. For emergencies, call 911 or visit the nearest hospital with an ER.

How many doctors are affiliated with Wellstar Paulding Medical Center?

653 physicians are affiliated with this hospital according to CMS Physician Compare data. This includes 86 surgeons.

Does Wellstar Paulding Medical Center 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 Wellstar Paulding Medical Center have?

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center has 83 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

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:

Does your Medicare plan cover Wellstar Paulding Medical Center?

Compare Plans in 30141, GA →