Facility Information
📋 Quick Reference
- Hospital Type: Acute Care Hospitals
- Ownership: Government - Hospital District or Authority
- Address: 7939 U S Hwy 165 South, Columbia, LA 71418
- County: Caldwell County
- Phone: (318) 649-6106
- Emergency Services: Yes
- Birth-Friendly Designation: Not designated
Citizens Medical Center scores in the average range with a SafeHospitals USA Safety Score of 5.5/10 (Grade C — Average). The 2024 CMS data shows mixed results: some measures meet or exceed national standards, while others fall short. Patients should ask specific questions about infection control and readmission rates before admission.
How Citizens Medical Center Compares Nationally
Using the 2024 CMS Hospital Compare dataset — the federal government's official source for hospital quality — we analyzed performance across five quality measures. Here is what the data shows for this facility:
Patient Experience & Survey Data
Patient experience surveys (HCAHPS) ask discharged patients about their hospital stay — communication with nurses and doctors, responsiveness of staff, cleanliness, and overall rating. CMS collected 119 completed surveys from Citizens Medical Center patients for the 2024 reporting period.
Survey Rating: ★★★★★ Patient Experience (5.0/5)
Timely Care Score: 90.2 (national average: ~80.0)
This facility's timely care score exceeds the national benchmark, indicating patients are seen and treated promptly — a meaningful indicator for emergency and urgent care situations.
Infection Control Performance
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are among the most preventable patient safety risks. CMS tracks six HAI measures including central line infections, catheter-related urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, and C. difficile rates. This facility has 0 HAI measures performing better than the national benchmark.
This facility does not currently outperform HAI benchmarks in the 2024 CMS dataset. This is a important concern for patients scheduled for surgery, catheter procedures, or extended ICU stays. Ask your care team about infection prevention protocols.
Medicare Billing Cost & Spending
Medicare spends an average of $17,286 per patient episode here, compared to the national average cost of $27,477.
✓ This hospital spends 37.1% less than the national average, making it cost-efficient for Medicare services.
Recovery & Hospital Return Days
This section shows whether discharged patients spent extra days back in the hospital within 30 days of leaving, compared to the national average. Fewer days indicate a safer discharge process and a better recovery at home:
- Heart Failure Patients: Patients spent average of 28.6 extra days in the hospital after discharge (worse than average).
- Pneumonia Patients: Patients spent average of 96.6 extra days in the hospital after discharge (worse than average).
FAQs
Q. What is the safety grade of CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER?
Q. Is CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER designated as Birth-Friendly?
Q. How expensive is care at CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER compared to the national average?
Q. What do patient surveys say about outpatient surgery at CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER?
Q. Does CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER offer emergency services?
About Our Scoring Methodology
Our SafeHospitals USA Safety Score is calculated from the official CMS Hospital Compare dataset using a weighted composite of: hospital-acquired infection rates (HAI, 30% weight), patient safety indicator measures (25%), mortality measure outcomes (20%), 30-day readmission rates (15%), and patient experience survey scores (10%). Scores range from 0–10 and are normalized against the national distribution of all Medicare-certified facilities.
Scores are recalculated annually when CMS releases updated Hospital Compare data. The current scores reflect the 2024 CMS data release, last verified by our data team on March 15, 2026.
