Central Iowa VA Health Care System
Des Moines, Iowa 50310
What the Data Shows About Central Iowa VA Health Care System
Central Iowa VA Health Care System is a VA facility (ID vha-636a8) located in Des Moines, Iowa (ZIP 50310), classified as medical center in the VA directory. Its VA SAIL (Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning) composite quality rating is 4.0/5, compared with the national VA average of 3.7/5, meaning this facility performs above the system-wide benchmark on this composite. Patient satisfaction (from the SHEP survey) stands at 80/100 versus a national VA average of 76/100.
Appointment wait times at Central Iowa VA Health Care System average 10.0 days for primary care, 12.0 days for mental health care, and 17.0 days for specialty care. The national VA averages are 12.4 days (primary), 14.9 days (mental health), and 21.7 days (specialty) - wait-time figures represent days from a veteran's preferred date to completed appointment, so shorter values here generally indicate faster access, though they do not capture clinical complexity or referral patterns.
The facility serves approximately 25,000 unique veterans per year per the VA Annual Report. Veterans may be eligible for VA Community Care when local wait times exceed national access standards or when the needed service is not available on site; eligibility and enrollment are handled through VA.gov or the VA enrollment line (1-877-222-8387). There are 1 other VA facility listed in Iowa for comparison or referral. All figures reflect the VA Access and Quality release last refreshed on . This page is informational and is not medical advice, verify current appointment availability directly with the facility.
Appointment Wait Times
Wait times = days from veteran's preferred date to completed appointment. Source: VA Access to Care program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the quality rating for Central Iowa VA Health Care System?
Central Iowa VA Health Care System has a quality rating of 4.0/5 based on VA SAIL (Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning) composite measures. The national average VA quality rating is 3.7/5, so this facility performs above the national average.
How long are wait times at Central Iowa VA Health Care System?
Central Iowa VA Health Care System reports average wait times of 10.0 days for primary care, 12.0 days for mental health care, and 17.0 days for specialty care. The national VA average is 12.4 days for primary care.
How do veterans access care at Central Iowa VA Health Care System?
Veterans can access care at Central Iowa VA Health Care System by enrolling in VA health care through VA.gov or calling 1-877-222-8387. Eligible veterans include those with service-connected conditions, low income, Purple Heart recipients, and other qualifying categories. Community care may be available if wait times exceed VA standards.
Facility Information
- Facility ID
- vha-636a8
- Type
- Medical Center
- City
- Des Moines
- State
- Iowa
- ZIP Code
- 50310
vs. National Average
↑ better than national average · ↓ below national average
Other VA Facilities in Iowa
View all VA facilities →About This Data
Quality ratings reflect VA SAIL (Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning) composite scores. Patient satisfaction from the SHEP (Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients) surveys. Wait times from the VA Access to Care program. Patient volume from the VA Annual Report. Contact the facility for current appointment availability.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainHospital is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.