Logo
Data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey (CMS) & CMS Hospital Price Transparency (TiC) — Updated April 2026
H+
Hospital Profile

SAN MATEO MEDICAL CENTER

222 W 39TH AVE, San Mateo, CA 94403

SAN MATEO County

3

Overall Rating

66%

Would Recommend

153

Patient Surveys

Moderate sample

Top 80%

Nationally

Key Insights

Top Strength

Cleanliness

Area for Improvement

Nurse Communication

Quality Breakdown

Quality Dimensions

Nurse Communication (2)Doctor Communication (2)Staff Responsiveness (2)Medicine Communication (2)Discharge Information (4)Care Transition (4)Cleanliness (5)Quietness (2)

Patient Satisfaction

Nurses Communicated
74%
Doctors Communicated
73%
Always Received Help
55%
Hospital Always Clean
81%
Hospital Always Quiet
54%
Would Recommend
66%
Rate 9 or 10
70%

Patient Experience in Detail

Each metric below comes from the CMS HCAHPS Patient Survey — the national standard for measuring patient perspectives on hospital care. Percentages represent the proportion of patients who gave the most positive response ("always" or "definitely").

Nurse Communication
74%-4.6% vs avg

Survey Question: "How often did nurses communicate well with you?"

Measures how often nurses listened carefully to patients, explained things in a way they could understand, and treated them with courtesy and respect during their hospital stay.

0%100%
This hospital: 74%
National avg: 78.6%
Doctor Communication
73%-5.6% vs avg

Survey Question: "How often did doctors communicate well with you?"

Measures how often doctors listened carefully, explained things clearly, and treated patients with courtesy and respect. This includes whether doctors discussed treatment plans and involved patients in decisions about their care.

0%100%
This hospital: 73%
National avg: 78.6%
Staff Responsiveness
55%-8.0% vs avg

Survey Question: "How often did you receive help as soon as you wanted?"

Measures how quickly hospital staff responded when patients pressed the call button, and how often patients received help getting to the bathroom or using a bedpan when needed.

0%100%
This hospital: 55%
National avg: 63%
Hospital Cleanliness
81%+9.0% vs avg

Survey Question: "How often were your room and bathroom kept clean?"

Measures patients' perception of the cleanliness of their hospital room and bathroom during their stay. This is a key indicator of infection control practices and facility maintenance.

0%100%
This hospital: 81%
National avg: 72%
Hospital Quietness
54%-4.7% vs avg

Survey Question: "How often was the area around your room quiet at night?"

Measures how often the area around the patient's room was quiet at night, which is critical for rest and recovery. Noise disruptions can affect healing, sleep quality, and overall patient well-being.

0%100%
This hospital: 54%
National avg: 58.7%
Would Recommend
66%-3.1% vs avg

Survey Question: "Would you recommend this hospital to friends and family?"

The percentage of patients who said they would "definitely recommend" this hospital. This is considered the single most important overall indicator of patient satisfaction and is strongly correlated with clinical quality outcomes.

0%100%
This hospital: 66%
National avg: 69.1%
Overall Hospital Rating
70%-0.6% vs avg

Survey Question: "On a scale of 0-10, how would you rate this hospital?"

The percentage of patients who gave the hospital a rating of 9 or 10 out of 10. This top-box score captures the proportion of patients who had an excellent overall experience during their hospital stay.

0%100%
This hospital: 70%
National avg: 70.6%

Star Ratings

3

Overall

3

Hospital Rating

3

Recommend

2

Nurse Communication

2

Doctor Communication

2

Staff Responsiveness

2

Medicine Communication

4

Discharge Info

4

Care Transition

5

Cleanliness

2

Quietness

How Hospital Ratings Work

What is HCAHPS?
The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) is the first national, standardized, publicly reported survey of patients' perspectives on hospital care. Developed by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HCAHPS has been in use since 2006 and is administered to a random sample of adult inpatients between 48 hours and 6 weeks after discharge.
How are star ratings calculated?
CMS converts raw survey responses into 1-5 star ratings using a statistical clustering algorithm that adjusts for patient mix (age, health status, education level, language). The overall star rating is a weighted summary of 8 individual quality dimensions. Stars are recalculated quarterly based on the most recent 12-month survey period. Hospitals must have at least 100 completed surveys to receive a star rating.
About this hospital's survey data
SAN MATEO MEDICAL CENTER received 153 completed patient surveys with a 16% response rate. This meets the CMS minimum threshold for star rating assignment, though larger samples provide greater confidence.
The 8 quality dimensions explained

Nurse Communication

How well nurses communicated with patients — listening, explaining, and responding.

Doctor Communication

How well doctors communicated — explaining conditions, treatments, and involving patients in decisions.

Staff Responsiveness

How quickly staff responded to call buttons and requests for help.

Communication About Medicines

How well staff explained medications — purpose, side effects, and what to watch for.

Discharge Information

Whether patients received clear instructions about care after leaving the hospital.

Care Transition

How well the hospital prepared patients for life after discharge — understanding medications, responsibilities, and follow-up needs.

Cleanliness

How often patients' rooms and bathrooms were kept clean during their stay.

Quietness

How often the area around patients' rooms was quiet at night, supporting rest and recovery.

Quality & Cost Context

SAN MATEO MEDICAL CENTER has a 3-star overall patient satisfaction rating, placing it in the top 80% of hospitals nationally. 66% of patients would definitely recommend this hospital. A colonoscopy near this hospital costs a median of $85. Higher-rated hospitals do not necessarily cost more — in fact, many top-rated facilities negotiate competitive rates with insurers.

Specialties at SAN MATEO MEDICAL CENTER

Physician specialties available at this hospital, based on 96 affiliated physicians from the CMS NPI Registry.

Self-Pay Procedure Costs

Average negotiated rates for common procedures near San Mateo, CA. These are physician/professional fees — facility fees are additional.

ProcedureLowMedianHigh
Cataract Surgery$85$1,210$1,401
Colonoscopy$85$85$647
C-Section$2,218$4,804$5,687
ER Visit (Moderate Severity)$80$88$217
Hip Replacement$90$2,404$3,289
Knee Replacement$1,796$2,401$3,286
Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic)$80$1,219$1,674

Cost data sourced from insurer Transparency in Coverage Act filings. Costs shown are negotiated rates and may not reflect your actual out-of-pocket cost. Learn about our data

Nearby Hospitals

Doctors at SAN MATEO MEDICAL CENTER

6 physicians affiliated with this hospital with published profiles.

About

San Mateo Medical Center, located in San Mateo, California, has received an overall star rating of 3 out of 5. The hospital has a patient recommendation rate of 66.0%, with 70.0% of patients rating their experience as a 9 or 10. A total of 153 completed patient surveys were collected, resulting in a survey response rate of 16.0%. The hospital's top strength is its cleanliness, with 81.0% of patients reporting that the hospital was always clean, which is above the national average of 72.0%. However, there are areas identified for improvement, particularly in nurse communication, where 74.0% of patients felt nurses always communicated well, compared to the national average of 78.6%. Additionally, only 55.0% of patients reported always receiving help when needed, which is below the national average of 63.0%. The hospital's quality tier is classified as average, with doctor communication also falling short at 73.0% against the national average of 78.6%. For common procedures, the median costs are as follows: Cataract Surgery at $1,209.71, Colonoscopy at $85.00, C-Section at $4,804.44, ER Visit (Moderate Severity) at $88.00, and Hip Replacement at $2,403.74. Data source: CMS HCAHPS.

Location

Address

222 W 39TH AVE

San Mateo, CA 94403

SAN MATEO County

Phone

(650) 573-2222

Written by Jayant Panwar | Last reviewed: Q1 2026

Medically reviewed for accuracy

Official U.S. Government Data: Quality ratings sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) HCAHPS Patient Survey, Jan–Dec 2024. Based on 153 completed patient surveys (16% response rate). Procedure costs from federally mandated Transparency in Coverage (TiC) Act filings.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Hospital quality ratings reflect patient survey responses and may not predict individual outcomes. Always consult with your healthcare provider and insurance company for specific medical decisions. Learn about our data · Editorial policy

Medical & Financial Disclaimer

Cost estimates on this page are derived from CMS Hospital Price Transparency (TiC) data and represent typical self-pay rates for the local area. Actual costs vary by patient, procedure complexity, insurance plan, and time of service. This information is for educational and comparison purposes only — it is not a bill, benefit determination, or medical advice. Always consult directly with the hospital's billing department and your insurance provider for accurate cost information before receiving care.

Data Sources & Methodology

HCAHPS Patient Survey — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Survey period: Q1–Q3 2024. Minimum 100 completed surveys required for publication. cms.gov/hcahps ↗

Hospital Price Transparency (TiC) — CMS machine-readable files. Aggregated to metro-area median ranges. Includes standard charges and discounted cash prices. cms.gov/hospital-price-transparency ↗

Last updated: December 15, 2024. Data refreshed quarterly.

Rating methodology: HCAHPS composite domains normalized to 0–100 scale per CMS technical specifications. Star ratings reflect patient-reported experience, not clinical outcome measures.