VA Western Colorado Health Care System earned a five-star rating as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2025 hospital quality ratings, according to a news release from the hospital.

CMS’s hospital ratings are based on five categories: mortality; safety of care; readmission; patient experience; and timely and effective care. A higher star rating, out of 5, indicates better performance on these quality measures.

Within the past year, VA Western Colorado Health Care System has instituted a number of improvements to better serve veterans, including:

• Expanding services at Montrose Clinic.
• Extending mobile-medical-unit services to Nucla.
• Launching the Virtual Health Resource Center, which offers training and education on virtual health tools, such as My HealtheVet and VA mobile apps.

“These ratings highlight the excellent care VA Western Colorado Health Care System provides,” said Mathew Tekansik, the hospital’s interim director. “Our job is to continue raising the bar for customer service and convenience throughout the department, so VA Western Colorado Health Care System works better for the veterans, families, caregivers and survivors we are charged with serving.”

As part of CMS’s 2025 ratings, 77 percent of VA hospitals that received an Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating received 4 or 5 stars, and no VA hospitals received a one-star rating. More than 90 percent of VA hospitals with ratings maintained or improved upon their 2024 star rating.