Facility Information
📋 Quick Reference
- Hospital Type: Acute Care - Veterans Administration
- Ownership: Veterans Health Administration
- Address: 3601 South Sixth Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723
- County: Pima County
- Phone: (520) 629-1821
- Emergency Services: Yes
- Birth-Friendly Designation: Not designated
Va S. Arizona Healthcare System scores in the average range with a SafeHospitals USA Safety Score of 5.9/10 (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 Va S. Arizona Healthcare System 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 434 completed surveys from Va S. Arizona Healthcare System patients for the 2024 reporting period.
Survey Rating: ★★★★☆ Patient Experience (4.0/5)
Timely Care Score: 0.0 (national average: ~80.0)
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 6 HAI measures performing better than the national benchmark.
This represents strong infection control performance. Facilities that consistently outperform HAI benchmarks typically maintain rigorous hand hygiene protocols, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and environmental disinfection standards.
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 4.1 extra days in the hospital after discharge (worse than average).
- Pneumonia Patients: Patients spent average of 2.5 extra days in the hospital after discharge (worse than average).
- Heart Attack Patients: Patients spent average of 6.1 extra days in the hospital after discharge (worse than average).
FAQs
Q. What is the safety grade of VA S. ARIZONA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM?
Q. Is VA S. ARIZONA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM designated as Birth-Friendly?
Q. How expensive is care at VA S. ARIZONA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM compared to the national average?
Q. What do patient surveys say about outpatient surgery at VA S. ARIZONA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM?
Q. Does VA S. ARIZONA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 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.
