Compare with other hospitals in San Antonio
CMS Hospital Compare measure groups
Mortality
7
measures reported
Safety
7
measures reported
4 better than national
Readmission
10
measures reported
Patient experience
8
HCAHPS dimensions
Timely & effective
10
measures reported
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See a clinician todayUniversity Health System in context
University Health System is an acute-care hospital in San Antonio, Texas, run as a hospital-district public facility. Medicare certifies it under CMS Certification Number 450213, the number CMS uses for this hospital in its Care Compare files.
CMS Hospital Compare gives this facility an overall rating of 3 of 5 stars. Compared with the national rate: mortality, none of 7 measures better or worse; safety, 4 better and 0 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 Health System 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: Parkland in Dallas, Ben Taub in Houston, and University Health in San Antonio are the three largest hospital districts in Texas. Texas has not adopted Medicaid expansion; uncompensated-care burden on these districts is among the highest in the country.
For Black patients
If you are a Black patient being seen at University Health System in San Antonio, Texas, 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 San Antonio
If you or a family member will need care after discharge, these are the Medicare-certified providers in San Antonio, 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.
Alternatives & nearby care
Sliding-scale clinics
FQHCs near San Antonio
Federally Qualified Health Centers, take Medicaid and uninsured on sliding scale.
Providers
Providers in TX
Black clinicians in TX, by specialty, city and insurance.
State rollup
All hospitals in Texas
Safety-net systems, state scorecard, rollups by CMS star rating.
Black maternal health context for University Health System
University Health System 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 Health System 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 Texas
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 Health System 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 Health System?
University Health System has a CMS overall hospital rating of 3 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 Health System?
University Health System is a hospital-district public facility.
Does University Health System have an emergency room or labor and delivery?
In the CMS Hospital General Information file, University Health System reports emergency services and meets the criteria for CMS's Birthing-Friendly designation.
Where is University Health System located?
University Health System is at 4502 Medical Dr, San Antonio, TX, 78229. Phone: (210) 358-2637.
References & primary sources
- CMS Hospital Compare, Hospital General Information (the source for the overall star rating, measure-group counts, ownership, emergency services and the Birthing-Friendly flag): data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/xubh-q36u.
- This hospital on Medicare Care Compare: Care Compare search by CCN.
- 42 CFR Part 482, Medicare Conditions of Participation for Hospitals (the source for the visitation and grievance rights above): ecfr.gov, Title 42 Part 482.
CMS Hospital General Information file dated