Hearth Record

Northern Cochise Community Hospital, Inc.

A critical access hospital in Willcox, Arizona 85643

901 West Rex Allen Drive, Willcox, Arizona 85643. (520) 384-3541.

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The short answer

Record last released by CMS on Oct 20, 2026.

The last 24 months 3 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jul 2024. Most serious: Standard-level. Every month

Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.

What these words mean2
Inspection (survey)
A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
Deficiency, citation, violation
What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.

What did inspectors find?

The last inspection on record was on Jul 16, 2024: a standard inspection.

3 deficiencies cited in the last three years.

Source:

CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.

When those deficiencies happened

3 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jul 2024. Most serious: Standard-level. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.

3 deficiencies by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each deficiency, as cited

Rule titles as CMS’s inspectors cite them, set in sentence case.

Source:

CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.

Jul 16, 2024: standard inspection3 deficiencies
  • Initial Comments - Not A Deficiency Citation

    “Hospital The facility must meet the applicable provisions of the 2012 Edition of the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association This is a Recertification survey for Medicare under LSC 2012, Chapter 19, Existing. The entire facility, was surveyed on July 15-16, 2024. The facility meets the standards, based on acceptance of a plan of correction.”

    Rule K0000. Standard-level.

  • Multiple Occupancies

    The inspectors’ words, 677 words

    “Multiple Occupancies CFR(s): NFPA 101 Multiple Occupancies - Sections of Health Care Facilities Sections of health care facilities classified as other occupancies meet all of the following: o They are not intended to serve four or more inpatients for purposes of housing, treatment, or customary access. o They are separated from areas of health care occupancies by construction having a minimum two hour fire resistance rating in accordance with Chapter 8. o The entire building is protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 9.7. Hospital outpatient surgical departments are required to be classified as an Ambulatory Health Care Occupancy regardless of the number of patients served. 19.1.3.3, 42 CFR 482.41, 42 CFR 485.623 This Standard is not met as evidenced by: 43814 Based on the requirement to minimum NFPA 101-chapter 19 fire protection features such as 2-hour separation, sprinkler, and alarm function for the hospital. The facility failed to meet this requirement for the Physical therapy area. Failure to provide the minimum fire protection features could cause serious injury or death in the event of a fire NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, 2012 Edition - Chapter 19 Existing Health Care Occupancies 19.1.2 Classification of Occupancy. 6.1.5.1 * Definition - Health Care Occupancy. An occupancy used to provide medical or other treatment or care simultaneously to four or more patients on an inpatient basis, where such patients are mostly incapable of self-preservation due to age, physical or mental disability, or because of security measures not under the occupants’ control. 19.1.3.4 Contiguous Non-Health Care Occupancies. 19.1.3.4.1 * Ambulatory care facilities, medical clinics, and similar facilities that are contiguous to health care occupancies, but are primarily intended to provide outpatient services, shall be permitted to be classified as business occupancies or ambulatory health care facilities, provided that the facilities are separated from the health care occupancy by not less than 2-hour fire resistance-rated construction, and the facility is not intended to provide services simultaneously for four or more in patients who are litter borne. 19.1.3 Multiple Occupancies. 19.1.3.3 * Sections of health care facilities shall be permitted to be classified as other occupancies, provided that they meet all of the following conditions: 1. They are not intended to provide services simultaneously for four or more inpatients for purposes of housing, treatment, or customary access by inpatients incapable of self-preservation. 2. They are separated from areas of health care occupancies by construction having a minimum 2-hour fire resistance rating in accordance with Chapter 8. 3. For other than previously approved occupancy separation arrangements, the entire building is protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 9.7. NFPA 101 2012 Edition, Section 8.2 Construction and Compartmentation. 8.2.1.1 Buildings or structures occupied or used in accordance with the individual occupancy chapters, Chapters 11 through 43, shall meet the minimum construction requirements of those chapters. 8.2.1.2 * NFPA 220, Standard on Types of Building Construction, shall be used to determine the requirements for the construction classification. 8.2.1.3 Where the building or facility includes additions or connected structures of different construction types, the rating and classification of the structure shall be based on one of the following: (1) Separate buildings, if a 2-hour or greater vertically aligned fire barrier wall in accordance with NFPA 221, Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls, exists between the portions of the building. (2) Separate buildings, if provided with previously approved separations. (3) Least fire-resistive construction type of the connected portions, if separation as specified in 8.2.1.3(1) or (2) is not provided. Findings: Observations made while on tour on July 15-16, 2024 revealed the facility’s physical therapy outpatient treatment center is not separated from the hospital by a 2-hour firewall and is missing a fire-rated door. Employee #1 confirmed during the exit conference on July 16 that the facility’s physical therapy outpatient treatment center is not separated from the hospital by a 2-hour firewall and is missing a fire-rated door does meet the requirements of NFPA 101 Chapter 19 Existing Health Care Occupancies.”

    Rule K0131. Standard-level.

  • Portable Fire Extinguishers

    The inspectors’ words, 482 words

    “Portable Fire Extinguishers CFR(s): NFPA 101 Portable Fire Extinguishers Portable fire extinguishers are selected, installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. 18.3.5.12, 19.3.5.12, NFPA 10 This Standard is not met as evidenced by: 43814 Based on observation, the facility failed to prevent correctly typed fire extinguishers from the stored class B fuel used for the generators. Failing to have clear access to a fire extinguisher during an emergency could result in harm to the patients and/or staff. NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, 2012, Chapter 19, Section 19.3.5.12 “Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in all health care occupancies in accordance with 9.7.4.1” Section 9.7.4.1 “Where required by the provisions of another section of this Code, portable fire extinguishers shall be installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for portable Fire Extinguishers.” NFPA 10, Chapter 7, Section 7.2.2 Periodic inspections or electronic monitoring of fire extinguishers shall include a check of at least the following items: No obstruction to access or visibility. NFPA 30: Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, 2012 Edition - Chapter 4 Definition and Classification of Liquids 4.2.2 Combustible Liquid. Any liquid that has a closed-cup flash point at or above 100°F (37.8°C), as determined by the test procedures and apparatus set forth in Section 4.4. Combustible liquids are classified according to Section 4.3. NFPA 10: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2010 Edition - Chapter 5 Selection of Portable Fire Extinguishers 5.2.2 Class B Fires. Class B fires are fires in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases. 6.3 Installations for Class B Hazards. 6.3.1 Other Than for Fires in Flammable Liquids of Appreciable Depth. 6.3.1.1 Minimum sizes of fire extinguishers for the listed grades of hazard shall be provided in accordance with Table 6.3.1.1, except as modified by 6.3.1.5. Table 6.3.1.1 Fire Extinguisher Size and Placement for Class B Hazards Type of Hazard Basic Minimum Extinguisher Rating Maximum Travel Distance to Extinguishers ft m (moderate) 20-B 50 Notes: (1) The specified ratings do not imply that fires of the magnitudes indicated by these ratings will occur, but rather they are provided to give the operators more time and agent to handle difficult spill fires that have the potential to occur. (2) For fires involving water-soluble flammable liquids, see 5.5.3. (3) For specific hazard applications, see Section 5.5. 6.3.1.2 Fire extinguishers shall be located so that the maximum travel distances do not exceed those specified in Table 6.3.1.1. (See Annex E.) Findings include: During a facility tour conducted on July 15, 2024, revealed that the two facility generators did not have a 20 lb B rated extinguisher within 50 of thea class B diesel fuel. Employee #1 confirmed during the exit conference on July 16, 2024, that the two generators did not have rated extinguishers within 50 feet of the fuel storage.”

    Rule K0355. Standard-level.

All 2 inspections in the last three years
Inspections on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Jul 16, 2024Standard inspection3 deficiencies cited
Jul 10, 2024Standard inspectionNo deficiencies cited

How do patients fare?

  • CMS gives no overall : “There are too few measures or measure groups reported to calculate a star rating or measure group score.”
  • Of the measures behind its , CMS counts against the national value: readmission, 0 better and 0 worse of 2.
  • CMS gives no : “The number of cases/patients is too few to report a star rating.”
  • Readmissions within 30 days, as CMS gives them (Jul 1, 2023 to Jun 30, 2025): pneumonia 16.9%. CMS gives no comparison with the national rate for them in this release.
  • After outpatient care, compared by CMS: unplanned hospital visits after a colonoscopy, no different than the national rate.
Ratings and measures, as published
MeasureRating
Overall ratingCMS’s overall hospital quality star rating, 1 to 5Not rated
Patient survey ratingCMS star rating from its survey of the hospital’s patients (HCAHPS), 1 to 5Not rated

Is it certified, and in good standing?

  • Medicare-certified critical access hospital since Feb 1, 2002.
  • Ownership: voluntary non-profit - private.
  • It is not accredited by a private organisation, so the state carries out its routine inspections for Medicare.
  • No deficiency on record in the last three years.
  • Voluntary non-profit - Private.
Source:

CMS, Provider of Services File - Hospital & Non-Hospital Facilities. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, Hospital General Information. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.

Has it been penalized?

  • CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospitals.
  • CMS’s HAC Reduction Program file has no result for it: the program covers general acute care hospitals Medicare pays under its inpatient prospective payment system.
  • None of the deficiencies cited in the last three years came from an inspection that included a complaint investigation.
Source:

CMS, Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated yearly.

CMS, Provider of Services File - Hospital & Non-Hospital Facilities. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, QCOR Hospital 2567 statements of deficiencies. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated monthly.

What do patients say about their care?

  • CMS doesn’t publish staffing levels for hospitals.
  • 82% of its health care workers got a flu shot (Oct 1, 2024 to Mar 31, 2025).
Source:

CMS, Patient survey (HCAHPS) - Hospital and Timely and Effective Care - Hospital. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Who owns it?

  • 6 owners or officers are people: Jay A Katz (corporate director); Daniel Wilson (corporate director); Julia Strange (corporate director); Carol Dunagan (corporate director); Gary Kartchner (corporate officer); Gary Kartchner (managing employee (on the payroll)).
  • CMS’s Provider of Services file records no change of ownership.
  • No private-equity firm among the owners CMS lists.
  • No real-estate investment trust among the owners CMS lists.
Source:

CMS, Hospital All Owners and Hospital Enrollments. Released Sep 29, 2026. Updated monthly.

CMS, Provider of Services File - Hospital & Non-Hospital Facilities. Released Oct 14, 2026. Updated quarterly.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Of the 4 hospitals CMS lists in Cochise County, 1 has an overall star rating from CMS: 1 rated 2 of 5.
  • CMS gives this hospital no overall star rating to compare.
Source:

CMS, Hospital General Information. Released Aug 13, 2026. Updated quarterly.

3 compared
PlaceOverall star rating
Canyon Vista Medical Center2
Benson HospitalNot given
Copper Queen Community HospitalNot given

What the record doesn’t say

  • CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospitals, so none are shown. The one payment cut CMS publishes for each hospital, under its Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, is shown where it applies.
  • Only complaints that led to a citation appear; complaints that didn’t aren’t published.
  • Most hospitals are accredited by a private organisation (The Joint Commission, DNV and others) whose routine inspections stand in for the state’s; those reports aren’t public, and QCOR holds only the state’s surveys: no inspection on record here doesn’t mean none took place.
  • QCOR says its hospital inspection data are complete only through September 17, 2026, while it moves to a new system.
  • CMS doesn’t publish staffing levels for hospitals.
  • In its September 2026 release CMS gives no comparison with the national rate for death and readmission rates, though it gives the rates.

Sources

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: CMS. CMS’s own record is on Care Compare. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Nov 5, 2026.

From the hospital

The public record above comes first. Anything the hospital adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.

Replies

None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the hospital will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.

Paid listing

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the hospital”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

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Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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