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Acute Care Birthing-friendly

University of Kentucky Hospital

800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536 · (859) 257-2278

CMS rating

4/5

Overall hospital rating

Ownership

Public / government

Government - State

CMS Provider #

180067

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

CMS Hospital Compare measure groups

Mortality

7

measures reported

1 better than national

Safety

7

measures reported

2 better than national

1 worse than national

Readmission

10

measures reported

Patient experience

8

HCAHPS dimensions

Timely & effective

10

measures reported

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University of Kentucky Hospital in context

University of Kentucky Hospital is an acute-care hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, run as a state-operated public hospital. Medicare certifies it under CMS Certification Number 180067, the number CMS uses for this hospital in its Care Compare files.

CMS Hospital Compare gives this facility an overall rating of 4 of 5 stars. Compared with the national rate: mortality, 1 better and 0 worse of 7 measures; safety, 2 better and 1 worse of 7 measures; readmission, none of 10 measures better or worse. The overall rating combines five groups of measures (mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care). CMS does not break it down by patient race.

In the CMS file, University of Kentucky Hospital reports emergency services, which puts it under EMTALA, the federal law that requires it to screen anyone who comes to its emergency department and to stabilize an emergency condition whether or not the patient can pay, and it meets CMS's criteria for the Birthing-Friendly designation.

Statewide context: University of Louisville Hospital and UK HealthCare carry the bulk of Medicaid admissions statewide. Kentucky adopted Medicaid expansion in 2014 under Governor Beshear's kyhealth initiative.

For Black patients

If you are a Black patient being seen at University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, a few concrete steps:

  • Bring someone with you. A partner, a relative, a friend or a doula can take notes, ask questions and speak up when you cannot. Under federal hospital rules (42 CFR 482.13(h)) you have the right to receive the visitors you choose, and the hospital must tell you about that right. It may restrict visits only for clinically necessary or reasonable reasons set out in its written policy, and never on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
  • For ongoing primary care, our Kentucky provider directory lists Black clinicians who chose to be listed. Filter to your insurance first.
  • If the hospital doesn't take your coverage, the closest Federally Qualified Health Center is listed under our FQHCs in this area. FQHCs serve every patient on a sliding-fee scale regardless of insurance status.
  • For help paying for care, our Kentucky Medicaid guide explains eligibility, documents and how to apply.
  • If you are treated dismissively or your pain is ignored, file a grievance. Every Medicare-certified hospital must run a grievance process (42 CFR 482.13(a)(2)): it must tell you whom to contact, accept a written or verbal grievance, set time frames for reviewing it, and give you a written decision. Concerns about the quality of your care or a premature discharge can be referred to Medicare's Quality Improvement Organization.

After a hospital stay in Lexington

If you or a family member will need care after discharge, these are the Medicare-certified providers in Lexington, with the quality data CMS publishes for each one. Under federal rules (42 CFR 482.43(d)), when you are referred for home health or a skilled nursing stay, the hospital must give you a list of the Medicare-certified agencies and facilities available to you and tell you that the choice among them is yours.

Black maternal health context for University of Kentucky Hospital

University of Kentucky Hospital meets CMS's criteria for the Birthing-Friendly designation, according to the CMS Hospital General Information file. If you're choosing a delivery hospital, the questions to ask are: how it handles hemorrhage, how fast it responds to eclampsia or HELLP syndrome, whether your doula can be with you, and what postpartum follow-up looks like.

Emergency department context

University of Kentucky Hospital reports emergency services to CMS. If you're going to the ED, name your symptoms specifically and ask that the workup you want (EKG, troponin, imaging) be done or that the reason it was not be written in your chart. Bring a family member or friend to advocate.

Coverage + benefits in Kentucky

Hospitals that take part in hospital presumptive eligibility (42 CFR 435.1110) can start temporary Medicaid coverage on the spot from preliminary information while your full application is processed. Ask the financial counselor whether University of Kentucky Hospital does, and ask about its financial assistance (charity care) policy. Anyone enrolled in Medicaid is automatically income-eligible for WIC under federal adjunctive eligibility (7 CFR 246.7).

Frequently asked questions

What is the CMS rating of University of Kentucky Hospital?

University of Kentucky Hospital has a CMS overall hospital rating of 4 out of 5 stars. CMS Hospital Compare combines mortality, safety, readmissions, patient experience, and timely-effective-care measures into this single rating.

What kind of hospital is University of Kentucky Hospital?

University of Kentucky Hospital is a state-operated public hospital.

Does University of Kentucky Hospital have an emergency room or labor and delivery?

In the CMS Hospital General Information file, University of Kentucky Hospital reports emergency services and meets the criteria for CMS's Birthing-Friendly designation.

Where is University of Kentucky Hospital located?

University of Kentucky Hospital is at 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY, 40536. Phone: (859) 257-2278.

References & primary sources

CMS Hospital General Information file dated