Hospital Profile

Verde Valley Medical Center

269 South Candy Lane
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
★★★☆☆
3/5 CMS Overall Rating
98
Licensed Beds
Acute Care
Hospital Type
424
Affiliated Doctors
Limited
Critical Care
2.4:1
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

Verde Valley Medical Center is a 3.00-star acute care hospital located in Cottonwood, Arizona with 98 licensed beds. As a private non-profit, its revenue is reinvested into patient care and community programs.

Its 3-star CMS rating is at the national average — it meets baseline quality standards across key domains. 424 physicians are affiliated with this facility, and it provides emergency services. Its critical care footprint covers 2 of 8 unit types (Limited) with a 2.4:1 nurse-to-bed ratio.

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

Quality Ratings & Measures

CMS evaluates hospitals across five quality domains. Here's how Verde Valley Medical Center compares:

3
Overall Rating
of 5 stars
💔
Same as National
Mortality
0 of 6 better
🛡️
Same as National
Safety
1 of 3 better
🔄
Same as National
Readmission
0 of 9 better
😊
All 8 domains reported
Patient Experience
8 measures
💰
0.9900
Medicare Spending Index (MSPB)
Near National Avg

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" clean6%N/A
Patients who reported that their room and bathroom were "Usually" clean20%N/A
Cleanliness - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Cleanliness - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★★☆ (4)
Patients who reported that their nurses "Always" communicated well77%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%★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" communicated well19%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" communicated well75%N/A
Doctor communication - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated well6%N/A
Doctor communication - star ratingNot Applicable%★★☆☆☆ (2)
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" communicated well19%N/A
Patients who reported that staff "Always" explained about medicines before giving it to them56%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 them22%N/A
Communication about medicines - star ratingNot Applicable%★★☆☆☆ (2)
Patients who reported that staff "Usually" explained about medicines before giving it to them22%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 home14%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 home86%N/A
Patients who reported that NO, they did not discuss whether they would need help after discharge16%N/A
Patients who reported that YES, they did discuss whether they would need help after discharge84%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" explained things in a way they could understand69%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 understand23%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" listened carefully to them73%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" listened carefully to them7%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" listened carefully to them20%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Always" treated them with courtesy and respect84%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Sometimes" or "Never" treated them with courtesy and respect3%N/A
Patients who reported that their doctors "Usually" treated them with courtesy and respect13%N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 6 or lower on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)9%N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 7 or 8 on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)28%N/A
Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)63%N/A
Overall hospital rating - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Overall hospital rating - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Always" communicated what the medication was for71%N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Sometimes" or "Never" communicated what the medication was for9%N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Usually" communicated what the medication was for.20%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 them75%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Sometimes" or "Never" listened carefully to them5%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 respect2%N/A
Patients who reported that their nurses "Usually" treated them with courtesy and respect13%N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Always" quiet at night56%N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Sometimes" or "Never" quiet at night11%N/A
Patients who reported that the area around their room was "Usually" quiet at night33%N/A
Quietness - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Quietness - star ratingNot Applicable%★★★☆☆ (3)
Patients who reported NO, they would probably not or definitely not recommend the hospital7%N/A
Patients who reported YES, they would definitely recommend the hospital59%N/A
Recommend hospital - linear mean scoreNot Applicable%N/A
Patients who reported YES, they would probably recommend the hospital34%N/A
Recommend hospital - star ratingNot Applicable%★★☆☆☆ (2)
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Always" discussed possible side effects41%N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Sometimes" or "Never" discussed possible side effects35%N/A
Patients who reported that when receiving new medication the staff "Usually" discussed possible side effects24%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: 25% (737 surveys completed). Data from 04/01/2024 to 03/31/2025 .

Services & Specialties

Verde Valley Medical Center offers the following services based on CMS Provider of Services data:

Emergency & Critical Care

Verde Valley 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.

🚨 Emergency Department
🏥 Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Surgical Services

🏥 Inpatient Surgery
🏢 Outpatient Surgery
💓 Cardiac Catheterization Lab
👁️ Ophthalmic Surgery

Specialty Services

🤰 Obstetrics (OB)
👶 Neonatal Nursery
🧒 Pediatric Services
🧠 Psychiatric Services
🫀 Organ Transplant
🌬️ 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

Verde Valley Medical Center has 98 licensed beds (98 Medicare-certified) with a nurse-to-bed ratio of 2.4:1. 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 Beds98
CMS Certified Beds98
Psychiatric Unit Beds11
Staffing snapshot: 424 affiliated physicians • 239 registered nurses

Doctors Affiliated with Verde Valley Medical Center

424 physicians are affiliated with Verde Valley Medical Center, including 104 surgeons. Doctor affiliations are sourced from CMS Physician Compare data and indicate physicians who have a formal relationship with this hospital.

424
Total Doctors
116
Procedural Specialists
104
Surgeons

Featured Affiliated Physicians

Farshid Paydar
Cataract surgery
NPI: 1376538678
Udaya K. Kakarla
Spinal fusion
NPI: 1609056647
Shayan Alam
Colonoscopy
NPI: 1780654988
Eamonn M. Mahoney
Spinal fusion
NPI: 1366626756
Stephen L. Ritland
Spinal fusion
NPI: 1346270832
Kristina Paley
Melanoma (skin cancer) excision
NPI: 1174729966

Showing 424 of 424 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 LimitNot AvailableNot Available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence LimitNot AvailableNot Available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days611Not Available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases0.476Not Available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases1Not Available
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)Not AvailableNot Available
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 Limit2.692No Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days1312No Different than National Benchmark
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases1.113No 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 Limit0.170No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit3.341No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures83No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases1.978No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases2No Different than National Benchmark
SSI - Colon Surgery1.011No 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 Procedures2Not Available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases0.023Not Available
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases0Not Available
SSI - Abdominal HysterectomyNot AvailableNot Available
MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence LimitNot AvailableNot Available
MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence LimitNot AvailableNot Available
MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days21454Not Available
MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases0.805Not Available
MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases0Not Available
MRSA BacteremiaNot AvailableNot Available
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence LimitN/ABetter than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit0.298Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days20875Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases10.040Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases0Better than the National Benchmark
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)0.000Better 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/ANumber of Cases Too Small
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate4.2780No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for heart attack patients13.476No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for CABG surgery patientsN/AN/ANot Available
Death rate for COPD patients7.262No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for heart failure patients11.2155No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for pneumonia patients18.9270No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate for stroke patients12.7118No Different Than the National Rate
Pressure ulcer rate0.732,052No Different Than the National Rate
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complicationsN/AN/ANumber of Cases Too Small
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate0.302,716No Different Than the National Rate
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate0.252,729No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate2.38505No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate1.6391No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative respiratory failure rate7.7696No Different Than the National Rate
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate5.31537No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative sepsis rate5.6987No Different Than the National Rate
Postoperative wound dehiscence rate1.64171No Different Than the National Rate
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate0.91470No Different Than the National Rate
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite1.08N/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 patients30.873More Days Than Average per 100 Discharges
Hospital return days for heart failure patients-24.9167Fewer Days Than Average per 100 Discharges
Hospital return days for pneumonia patients-17.4252Fewer Days Than Average per 100 Discharges
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR)15.31,152No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)11.71,054No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy10.1100No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy5.9100No Different Than the National Rate
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery1.1263No Different than expected
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate14.373No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of readmission for CABGN/A0Not Available
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients16.268No Different Than the National Rate
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate17.5167No Different Than the National Rate
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacementN/A0Number of Cases Too Small
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate13.8252No 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 Verde Valley 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 50 miles:

The Healing Place

28 miles
Not Rated N/A
Prescott, AZ · 16 beds

Yavapai Regional Medical Center

28.4 miles
★★☆☆☆ 2/5
Prescott, AZ · 218 beds

Va Northern Arizona Healthcare System

28.4 miles
★★★★★ 5/5
Prescott, AZ · 225 beds

Flagstaff Medical Center

39.2 miles
★★★★☆ 4/5
Flagstaff, AZ · 264 beds

The Guidance Center

40.3 miles
Not Rated N/A
Flagstaff, AZ · 16 beds

View all hospitals near 86326, AZ →

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: 269 South Candy Lane, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Phone: (928) 773-2357

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 86326, AZ →

Verde Valley Medical Center: Common Questions

What does a 3-star rating mean for Verde Valley 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 3-star rating means this hospital meets the national average across these domains. The rating is updated quarterly by CMS.

Does Verde Valley Medical Center have an emergency room?

Yes, Verde Valley Medical Center operates an emergency department.

How many doctors are affiliated with Verde Valley Medical Center?

424 physicians are affiliated with this hospital according to CMS Physician Compare data. This includes 104 surgeons.

Does Verde Valley 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 Verde Valley Medical Center have?

Verde Valley Medical Center has 98 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 Verde Valley Medical Center?

Compare Plans in 86326, AZ →