Three out of four patients say they feel like just a number in a big health system. I’ve seen that statistic, and it bothers me. Here at Community Howard Regional Health, we flip that script entirely. We are the ones answering the phone when you call. We are the team coordinating your specialist appointments down the hall, not across town. This isn’t about scale; it’s about access. It’s about making sure your lab results don’t get lost in a bureaucratic black hole, but instead land directly in the hands of a physician who knows your name. Let’s get specific about how we actually deliver on that promise, from reduced wait times to seamless care coordination you can feel.
Here is a fact that stopped me cold: during a heart attack, every 30-minute delay in treatment increases one-year mortality risk by 7.5%. That statistic isn’t abstract for me anymore. I recently reviewed the case of Sue Kassel, a 77-year-old Kokomo resident who went into cardiac arrest at Community Howard. She survived because the cardiac catheterization lab was right there . Not 60 miles away in Indianapolis. Right there.
That is what this hospital delivers. It is large enough to handle complex cases but local enough that the staff actually knows the community. Let me walk you through exactly what that means for you or your family.
Where Is Community Howard Regional Health Located and How Do I Contact Them?
The main campus sits at 3500 South Lafountain Street in Kokomo, Indiana . The main phone line is (765) 776-8000 .
There is also a behavioral health and counseling location at 322 North Main Street, Kokomo, which focuses on psychiatry and social work services .
Quick reference:
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Main campus: 3500 S Lafountain St, Kokomo, IN 46902
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Behavioral health: 322 N Main St, Kokomo, IN 46901
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Main phone: (765) 776-8000
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Behavioral health appointments: (765) 453-8555
What Specific Services Does Community Howard Offer?
Let me break this down by category so you can see exactly what is available.
Emergency and Critical Care
The emergency department operates 24/7 with board-certified physicians. What sets this hospital apart is the cardiac catheterization lab . Many community hospitals your size cannot perform emergency angioplasty. Community Howard can. That means if you are having a heart attack, you do not get stabilized and transferred. You get treated.
The intensive care unit provides continuous monitoring, and the hospital has a surgical ICU for post-operative patients .
Heart and Vascular Services
The interventional cardiology program is arguably the crown jewel here. Dr. Rajesh Mallela, the interventional cardiologist who treated Sue Kassel, put it bluntly: “I’m not sure she would have made it had she been transferred to Indianapolis instead of being treated onsite” .
The program includes:
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Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
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Angioplasty and stent placement
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Impella heart pump support for complex cases
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Cardiac rehabilitation
Surgical Services
The hospital maintains multiple operating rooms and offers both inpatient and outpatient surgery . Orthopedic surgery is a particular strength, including joint replacement and trauma surgery .
Cancer Care
Oncology services include chemotherapy infusion and access to the broader Community Health Network’s oncology specialists . While the Kokomo campus provides treatment locally, it connects to the network’s MD Anderson Cancer Center affiliation for protocol guidance .
Women’s and Children’s Services
Obstetrics and gynecology services are available, including labor and delivery . The hospital also provides pediatric care, both inpatient and outpatient .
Behavioral Health
This deserves special mention because it is often overlooked. The North Main Street location specifically focuses on:
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Psychiatry (adult, child/adolescent, and geriatric)
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Counseling services
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Social work support
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Psychiatric care for children and adolescents
Diagnostic Imaging
The hospital offers CT scans, MRI, PET scans, nuclear medicine, and interventional radiology . Having PET scan capability locally is significant—many smaller hospitals cannot offer this and must refer out.
How Does Community Howard Compare on Quality?
I always check data before I recommend a hospital. Here is what the numbers actually show.
Overall Performance
Community Howard Regional Health ranks better than 87% of U.S. hospitals overall . That places it in the top 13% nationally.
| Category | Performance vs. National Average | Percentile Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Score | Better | Top 13% |
| Patient Experience | Better | Top 32% |
| Quality Outcomes | Better | Top 27% |
| Patient Safety | Better | Top 38% |
| Timeliness of Care | Above Average | N/A |
Source:
Patient Experience Breakdown
The HCAHPS survey data reveals specific strengths:
| Measure | Community Howard Rating | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Communication | 4 stars | 3.45 stars |
| Staff Responsiveness | 4 stars | 3.02 stars |
| Cleanliness/Quietness | 4 stars | 3.04 stars |
| Discharge Information | 4 stars | 3.43 stars |
| Doctor Communication | 3 stars | 3.28 stars |
Source:
The standout here is staff responsiveness. When patients need help, they get it faster than at most hospitals. That matches what Sue described: “I have never felt so taken care of” .
Quality Outcomes
| Measure | Performance |
|---|---|
| Mortality | Good |
| Safety of Care | Good |
| Readmission Rates | Good |
| Effective Care | Same as national average |
Source:
The hospital scores “Good” on mortality, safety, and readmissions—the three metrics that matter most for clinical outcomes.
What Insurance Plans Does Community Howard Accept?
Here is practical information you need. The hospital accepts an extensive range of plans.
Major insurers accepted:
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Aetna (Choice POS II, HMO, PPO, Select, Signature Administrators)
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Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield (Blue Access PPO, Blue Preferred HMO, HealthSync HMO/PPO, Pathway X plans)
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CIGNA (HMO, Open Access Plus, PPO, LocalPlus)
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Ambetter (Indiana, multiple other states)
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CareSource (Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky)
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Encore Health Network
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First Health PPO
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Multiplan/PHCS PPO
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Medicare and Medicaid plans
A complete list includes over 378 specific plans . If you have commercial insurance, it is highly likely accepted. Always verify with your specific plan and the provider’s office before scheduling.
What Do Actual Patients Say?
I always read the reviews. They tell you what the star ratings miss.
The Positive
One patient described her surgical experience: “RN Susan got me ready for my procedure. She was full of energy and made me feel comfortable. I was extremely nervous, and she helped calm my nerves. The medical team was very friendly and smiling. Dr. Watters explained everything thoroughly.”
The recurring theme is staff attentiveness. Patients consistently mention nurses by name—Susan, Nick, Carrie, Megan—which tells me the culture encourages personal connection .
The Constructive
Not every experience is perfect. One parent expressed deep frustration about a pediatric visit where they felt concerns about their child’s headache were not fully heard, leading to a delayed diagnosis of a brain infection that required transfer to Riley Hospital .
This is a sobering reminder that no hospital gets it right every time. The hospital’s patient relations team responded and provided contact information for follow-up (patientrelationsandadvocacy@ecommunity.com or 317-621-7000) .
Another reviewer felt the focus was too much on billing rather than care . That complaint appears in reviews of every hospital I have ever analyzed.
The Verdict from Patients
The overall Google rating sits at 3.2 stars . That is modest, but note: people are far more likely to post reviews when they are angry than when they are satisfied. The formal HCAHPS survey data—which uses random sampling of all discharged patients—shows much stronger results, with the hospital ranking in the top third nationally for patient experience .
How Does Community Howard Compare to the Other Kokomo Hospital?
St. Vincent Kokomo is the other major hospital in town. Here is how they stack up:
| Quality Measure | Community Howard | St. Vincent Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Communication | Good | Average |
| Doctor Communication | Average | Good |
| Staff Responsiveness | Good | Average |
| Cleanliness | Average | Fair |
| Quiet Rooms | Average | Fair |
| Overall Rating | Average | Good |
| Recommend Hospital | Average | Good |
Source:
The trade-off is clear. Community Howard excels in nursing care and responsiveness—the “I need help now” factor. St. Vincent scores slightly higher on physician communication and overall recommendation rates.
If I needed nursing-intensive care or wanted rapid response from staff, I would lean toward Community Howard.
What Specialized Services Should You Know About?
Interventional Cardiology Available 24/7
This is the big one. Community Howard has two cardiac catheterization labs with staff available around the clock . Most hospitals your size do not offer this. If you have a heart attack at 2 AM on a Sunday, you get treated immediately—not transferred.
Behavioral Health Integration
The separate location at North Main Street provides dedicated mental health services, including child and adolescent psychiatry . This matters because behavioral health is often siloed away from medical care. Having it integrated under the same system improves coordination.
Price Transparency
As a nonprofit hospital, Community Howard is required to offer financial assistance programs . If you are uninsured or underinsured, ask about financial aid before assuming you cannot afford care. The system partners with Dollar For to help patients navigate medical debt relief .
Rehabilitation Services
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology are all available on-site . Cardiac rehab is specifically mentioned in patient stories as a key part of recovery .
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Community Howard Regional Health part of a larger network?
Yes. It is affiliated with Community Health Network, a central Indiana nonprofit health system . This gives patients access to specialists and resources beyond what a standalone community hospital could offer, while still receiving care locally.
How many beds does Community Howard have?
The hospital has 107 to 113 licensed beds, depending on the data source . This places it in the “large” category—big enough to handle most cases, but not so large that patients feel lost.
Does Community Howard have a neonatal intensive care unit?
Yes. The hospital offers Neonatal ICU services . This is significant because not all community hospitals can provide intensive care for newborns.
What is the Community Howard phone number for patient relations?
For concerns or compliments about your care, contact patientrelationsandadvocacy@ecommunity.com or call (317) 621-7000 . This team handles sensitive discussions and follows up on patient feedback.
Can I get a PET scan at Community Howard?
Yes. The hospital offers PET scan services . This advanced imaging capability means you do not need to travel for cancer staging or certain neurological evaluations.
Making Your Decision
Here is my honest take.
If you need emergency cardiac care, Community Howard is not just a good choice—it may be the difference between life and death. The 24/7 cath lab and interventional cardiology capability mean you stay put when minutes matter most.
If you value nursing care and staff responsiveness, the data shows this hospital delivers. Patients consistently report that nurses communicate well and respond quickly.
If you are seeking behavioral health services, the dedicated location and specialized providers mean you can access psychiatry and counseling without traveling to a major medical center.
No hospital is perfect. The negative reviews exist, and they deserve attention. But the objective data places Community Howard in the top 13% of hospitals nationally . That is not luck. That is consistent execution.
Your next step: If you need care, call (765) 776-8000. If you are comparing hospitals, ask your physician whether your condition requires the specialized services Community Howard offers—particularly for heart care, where time is literally muscle.
The hospital exists so Kokomo residents do not have to become experts at navigating Indianapolis traffic during a medical crisis. That is the point. That is the value.