Best Hospitals in Des Moines, IA, Graded A–F
All 4 graded Medicare-certified hospitals in Des Moines, IA, scored from CMS Care Compare — overall rating, mortality, safety of care and readmissions — against Iowa hospitals of the same type. Grades are computed, never edited, and every input is shown on the hospital page.
CMS data as of Sep 2026 · graded Sep 11, 2026Grade distribution — Des Moines, IA
A0
B1
C3
D0
F0
Highest graded
Des Moines · CMS overall rating 1 of 5 — bottom quart...See grade
4 hospitalsgraded in Des Moines, IA · 0 earned an A
All Iowa
Iowa City (3)Cedar Rapids (2)Council Bluffs (2)Dubuque (2)Sioux City (2)Waterloo (2)Algona (1)Ames (1)Anamosa (1)
Highest in Des Moines, IA 1
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center - Des Moines, IA · Acute care hospital · voluntary non-profit - private CMS Care Compare · data as of Sep 2026
- CMS overall rating 1 of 5 — bottom quarter among Iowa acute care hospitals
- Mortality: 0 measures better than the national rate, 0 worse, of 8
- Safety: 3 measures better than the national rate, 1 worse, of 8
BScore 59 · GoodSee Full Grade
(515) 247-4436
Des Moines, POLK County
Emergency dept.
Birthing-Friendly
2
Broadlawns Medical Center - Des Moines, IA · Acute care hospital · government - local CMS Care Compare · data as of Sep 2026
- CMS overall rating 3 of 5 — below median among Iowa acute care hospitals
- Mortality: 0 measures better than the national rate, 0 worse, of 1
- Safety: 1 measure better than the national rate, 0 worse, of 5
CScore 52 · AverageSee Full Grade
(515) 282-2200
Des Moines, POLK County
Emergency dept.
Birthing-Friendly
3
Va Central Iowa Healthcare System - Des Moines, IA · Acute care hospital · veterans health administration CMS Care Compare · data as of Sep 2026
- CMS overall rating 4 of 5 — top quarter among Iowa acute care hospitals
- Mortality: 0 measures better than the national rate, 2 worse, of 4
- Safety: 0 measures better than the national rate, 0 worse, of 3
CScore 50 · AverageSee Full Grade
(515) 699-5999
Des Moines, POLK County
Emergency dept.
4
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi - Des Moines, IA · Acute care hospital · voluntary non-profit - private CMS Care Compare · data as of Sep 2026
- CMS overall rating 3 of 5 — below median among Iowa acute care hospitals
- Mortality: 1 measure better than the national rate, 2 worse, of 8
- Safety: 4 measures better than the national rate, 0 worse, of 8
CScore 50 · AverageSee Full Grade
(515) 343-1000
Des Moines, POLK County
Emergency dept.
Birthing-Friendly
Iowa hospitals by city
How we grade hospitals
What data goes into a grade?
CMS Care Compare Hospital General Information: CMS overall rating (25), Mortality (25), Safety of care (25), Readmission (25). Each metric is percentile-ranked against Iowa hospitals of the same type; A ≥ 72, B ≥ 58, C ≥ 42, D ≥ 28, F below. Hospitals with fewer than three of the four metrics are shown as "Not graded".
Why is a well-known hospital graded C?
The grade measures outcomes CMS reports — death rates, complications, infections, readmissions — not reputation, research or specialist rankings. A large teaching hospital that treats the sickest patients can score average on these measures. Use the grade as one input, alongside the specialists you need.
Can a hospital pay to improve its grade?
No. Grades are computed from public data and have no editable field. Nothing on this page is sponsored.