66 critical access hospitals to know | 2018

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Becker's Healthcare is pleased to present the 2018 edition of the "66 critical access hospitals to know" list, highlighting 66 of the nation's certified critical access hospitals.

Critical access hospitals have 25 or fewer inpatient beds, and the annual average length of stay is 96 hours or fewer for acute care. These hospitals also offer 24/7 emergency care and are located in remote areas.

Many hospitals featured on this list have been recognized for clinical quality and excellence in care delivery. They have become pillars of their communities, providing access to healthcare for a broad population.

Becker's Healthcare editors selected the following hospitals based on awards and rankings from respected organizations including iVantage Health Analytics, The Chartis Group, the National Rural Health Association, CareChex, Healthgrades and Medicare star ratings. The team also considered the hospital's community impact and reputation for innovation.

Note: This is not an endorsement of included hospitals or associated healthcare providers. Organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Hospitals are presented in alphabetical order.

Please contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com with any questions or comments on this list.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (Lincoln, Ill.). Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed nonprofit community hospital and an affiliate of the Springfield, Ill.-based Memorial Health System. ALMH officially opened in 1954, but it traces its roots back to the early 1900s, when Deaconess Hospital was founded by local Protestants. The Evangelical Deaconess Society transferred its real estate to ALMH Corporation in 1951 to build a new facility, and the organization dropped its religious affiliation. ALMH has been the community's sole healthcare provider since 1962, when the town's Catholic hospital closed its doors. In recent years, ALMH has been recognized by iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group as one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the country in 2017, by The Joint Commission as a top-performing hospital on key quality measures in 2011 and 2014, and by Practice Greenhealth for sustainability and environmental stewardship in 2018.

Aspen (Colo.) Valley Hospital. Aspen Valley Hospital was founded in 1891 as "Citizen's Hospital," back when Aspen was a silver-mining town. It was renamed Pitkin County Hospital in 1946 before settling on its current designation in 1961. At that time, it was expanded to a 25-bed facility. Today, the nonprofit hospital is recognized as one of the nation's best by CMS. It was one of 337 hospitals nationwide to earn a five-star rating — one of seven in Colorado and the only critical access hospital in the state with a perfect score. Its highest rating was in patient experience.

Aspirus Ironwood (Mich.) Hospital. Aspirus Ironwood Hospital is a nonprofit critical access hospital that includes a surgery center, two clinics and an eye center. It is part of the Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus system, which operates eight community hospitals in Wisconsin and Michigan. Aspirus Ironwood has served the Gogebic Iron Range, an 80-mile strip of iron ore deposits spanning northern Michigan and Wisconsin, since 1923. The hospital was ranked among the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation by the National Rural Hospital Association in 2018.

Aspirus Iron River (Mich.) Hospital & Clinics. Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics is one of eight hospitals in the nonprofit Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus health system. The 25-bed Aspirus Iron River is in the Northwoods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, overlooking Ice Lake. Though small, Aspirus Iron River continues to grow its network of care. Leading up to a name change in 2009 when it became known as Northstar Health System, the hospital acquired the local ambulance service, opened physician clinics, expanded services and remodeled its campus. It later became Aspirus Iron River in 2014. It earned a spot among iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group's Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the U.S. in February.

Aspirus Medford (Wis.) Hospital. The 25-bed Apirus Medford Hospital & Clinics serves residents of four counties in Wisconsin with a spectrum of health services, including a pharmacy, six primary care clinics, an urgent care clinic, two therapy centers, a public fitness center, a skilled nursing home and an assisted living facility. It was established in 1920 by a local physician who had been practicing in the area since 1892. The hospital was designated a critical access hospital in 2002, one year after joining the nonprofit Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus health system. In 2014, the hospital completed a $16 million expansion that included a new birthing center, a cancer and infusion services area, education rooms and private financial counseling offices. Recently, Aspirus Medford was named to the iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list, and in July it welcomed new CEO Dale Hustedt.

Aultman Orrville (Ohio) Hospital. The 25-bed Aultman Orrville Hospital is a member of the Independent Hospital Network, a group of five hospitals dedicated to maintaining local nonprofit healthcare facilities. Aultman Orrville Hospital was founded more than 60 years ago as Dunlap Memorial, the namesake of its benefactor George Dunlap, who worked in the printing industry. The hospital changed its name to Aultman Orrville after affiliating with Aultman Health Foundation, a Canton, Ohio-based health system. Today, the hospital has a medical staff of 140 physicians and allied health professionals and employs 230 health professionals. Last fall, the hospital was recognized by iVantage Health Analytics, The Chartis Group and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health for top performance in quality among the nation's rural hospitals. Most recently, it earned an award from the Ohio Hospital Association and the Ohio Department of Health for its commitment to maternity care and breastfeeding support.

Avera Holy Family Hospital (Estherville, Iowa). Avera Holy Family Hospital is a critical access hospital that has been part of the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera Health system since 1997. It is situated in Estherville, a town of 6,800 people located near Iowa's Lake Okoboji. The hospital remains an integral part of the community and residents continue to invest in the facility. Avera Holy Family broke ground on a new emergency department project in May, which was funded by $1.26 million in pledges and donations from the community — blowing past the hospital's $1 million goal in just seven months. Avera Holy Family is known for its top-notch care. It is an eight-time recipient of iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group's Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award, and it was named a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital in 2017 by the National Rural Health Association.

Barrett Hospital and HealthCare (Dillon, Mont.). Barrett Hospital and HealthCare was built in 1922 as a community effort. It was built by Martin Barrett, one of Montana's first pioneers, for $100,000, and residents Joseph Shineberger and Margaret Roe contributed $50,000 to establish an endowed fund. Various community donors furnished the rooms and provided equipment, while the ladies of several churches sewed the curtains and table linens and provided food. The hospital has undergone several renovations over the years, most recently in 2012, when it was converted to an 83,000-square-foot, LEED-certified building. Barrett Hospital's 275 employees, including more than 40 nurses, serve more than 12,000 patients in the surrounding community.

Boone County Health Center (Albion, Neb.). Boone County Health is a nonprofit county hospital that has served north central Nebraska for more than 60 years. The health center is staffed by eight family practice physicians, one pediatrician and seven physician assistants. Together, the staff performs approximately 60,000 patient interactions each year, including laboratory services and screenings, surgery, and inpatient and outpatient visits. It follows a hub-and-spoke model, serving as the hub for five medical clinics in surrounding communities of Albion, Spalding, Newman Grove, Fullerton and Elgin. It is also affiliated with two clinics in St. Edward and Cedar Rapids.

Bridgton (Maine) Hospital. Bridgton Hospital is a small community hospital that is part of Lewiston-based Central Maine Healthcare, an integrated regional health system reaching approximately 400,000 patients. Bridgton is one of two critical access hospitals in the system. The hospital offers care at 10 different locations in the community, including a 24-hour emergency department, an urgent care clinic and family practices. It is also a site for graduate medical education, offering a family medicine residency, a hospital medicine fellowship and a sports medicine fellowship.

Ascension Calumet Hospital (Chilton, Wis.). Ascension Calumet Hospital opened its doors as Calumet Medical Center in 1956 as a nonprofit healthcare facility. Today, it is a part of Ascension Wisconsin, which operates 24 hospital campuses, more than 100 related healthcare facilities and employs more than 1,300 primary and specialty care clinicians from Racine to Eagle River. As part of its 2016-19 community health implementation strategy, the hospital offers a community garden for residents to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, community suicide prevention training, and other community-based programs.

Cherokee (Iowa) Regional Medical Center. Cherokee Regional Medical Center is a 25-bed nonprofit hospital that supports four regional medical clinics, a senior living complex, home health and hospice services, and a wellness center. Nearly 275 employees, including eight physicians, are behind the care offered at CRMC. This care has been recognized as some of the best among critical access hospitals. CRMC was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group for five consecutive years, from 2014 to 2018. In recent years, the hospital has embarked on emergency department and surgery remodels and expansions, a digital radiography conversion, and the construction of a $4 million medical arts building without incurring debt.

CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington (N.D.) Medical Center. Serving North Dakota since 1916, CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center is a level 5 trauma center and a North Dakota Acute Stroke Ready Hospital. The National Rural Health Association recognized the hospital among its 2018 Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall. The 25-bed hospital also has a robust outpatient presence and a satellite location in New Rockford, N.D.

Central Montana Medical Center (Lewistown). The 25-bed Central Montana Medical Center offers a swath of inpatient services as well as a large array of outpatient surgical services, including an outreach clinic in Harlowton, Mont. The National Rural Health Association recognized the hospital among its 2018 Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals. To enhance medical services in the area, CMMC and Billings (Mont.) Clinic entered into an affiliation for Billings Clinic to provide CMMC management services since June 2017. The affiliation allowed CMMC access to an EMR and additional specialists, as well as reduced supplies costs.

CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson (N.D.). At the heart of the southwestern North Dakota community since 1912, CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson offers patients a critical access hospital and several clinical practices in one facility. The hospital underwent a major transformation when it constructed its new facility in 2014 to unite all its facilities under one roof. With 25 beds and a level 4 accredited trauma center, CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson earned a spot among iVantage's 2018 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation.

Clay County Hospital (Flora, Ill.). Now in its third iteration, the county government-owned Clay County Hospital serves the residents of Clay County, Ill. With 20 beds and five physicians, the hospital was recognized by the Illinois Rural Health Association in 2015 with the Award of Merit. Healthgrades awarded Clay County Hospital its Patient Safety Excellence Award for both 2016 and 2017.

Cody (Wyo.) Regional Health. With a medical staff exceeding 58 physicians, Cody Regional Health is a unique critical access hospital serving Northwest Wyoming. The medical staff includes orthopedic surgeons, a neurosurgeon and a cardiologist, and has become the first critical access hospital to have a cath lab through a joint venture with Billings (Mont.) Clinic. The hospital earned Hospital & Health Networks' Health Care's Most Wired and America's 100 Best Hospital's for Patient Experience recognition from Women's Choice Award in 2017.

Community HealthCare System, Onaga (Kan.) & St. Marys (Kan.). With its seven locations serving a 10,000-square-mile service area, Community HealthCare System serves the rural communities of northeast Kansas. CHCS is among few hospitals in the country to earn Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program certification. St. Mary's Manor, the system's senior care program, has earned CHCS national recognition for its clinical outcomes. Established in 1963, the program has received several honors, including a five-star quality rating from CMS.

Delta (Utah) Community Hospital. Established in 1985, the 18-bed Delta Community Hospital offers a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient services to the Delta community. The hospital has been renovated since its opening and now offers improved women's and newborn areas as well as imaging services. Notably, the nonprofit hospital sponsors an annual community health fair, uniting more than 40 hospital groups, Millard County agencies and other organizations.

Door County Medical Center (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.). For more than 70 years, Door County Medical Center has served the residents of Door and Kewaunee counties. The critical access hospital is staffed by more than 175 physicians and is home to the Bone and Joint Center of Door County and the Door County Cancer Center. In 2018, DCMC earned its third consecutive Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades. The award is based on HCAHPS survey data, which includes assessments on nurse and physician communication, as well as medication and post-discharge care instructions.

Fairview Hospital (Great Barrington, Mass.). The Berkshire Health Systems' affiliated Fairview Hospital is exceeding quality measures, as evident by its multiple recognitions. The five-star CMS-rated facility has received several honors from Healthgrades, including a Joint Replacement Excellence Award and a Patient Safety Excellence Award in 2018. Healthgrades also recognized the health system, awarding it the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence from 2013-16. Finally, Leapfrog has awarded Fairview Hospital straight "As" from 2012-17 for hospital safety.

Floyd Valley Healthcare (Le Mars, Iowa). Originally opened in 1921 by a nunnery and turned over to the city of Le Mars in 1964, Floyd Valley Healthcare offers an array of health services. From its public health facilities to its home health services and its assisted living facility, Floyd Valley Healthcare serves Plymouth County residents. The hospital most recently broke ground on a $27.4 million expansion project in 2014, which added imaging services, an outpatient surgery center and a speech therapy center, among other services. The National Rural Health Association recognized Floyd Valley as one of its Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in 2018.

Gunnison (Colo.) Valley Health. This 24-bed county-owned hospital has provided residents of Gunnison County healthcare services since 1938. Frequently recognized, Gunnison Valley Health was named one of iVantage's Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals for 2018. In addition to its standard health services, Gunnison Valley Health is a level 4 trauma center. Gunnison Valley expanded its offerings in May 2018, adding ophthalmology services.

Hammond-Henry Hospital (Geneseo, Ill.). At the heart of the Geneseo community since 1901, Hammond-Henry Hospital employs about 400 residents to staff its main hospital and 14 clinics. Acknowledging the hospital's commitment to quality, CMS bestowed a five-star rating on the hospital, and the Hammond-Henry's Long-Term Care Living Center has received five-star CMS quality ratings every year from 2012-17.

Hancock County Hospital (Sneedville, Tenn.). The Ballad Health-affiliated Hancock County Hospital was built in 2005 to address a need for care in the Sneedville community. The hospital recently opened a family medicine practice. The National Rural Health Association recognized the hospital as one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals for overall quality in 2012.

OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center (Monmouth, Ill.). Twenty-three bed OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center is part of OSF HealthCare, a 13-hospital system based in Peoria, Ill. Fourteen physicians serve patients hailing from the rural farming community of Monmouth and beyond. The Leapfrog Group designated OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center a Top Rural Hospital in 2017. In the same year, The Chartis Group, iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health ranked the hospital in the top quartile of rural hospitals nationwide for excellent outcomes.

Hudson (Wis.) Hospital & Clinic. In 2009, Hudson Hospital & Clinic joined HealthPartners, a health system based in Bloomington, Minn., that operates more than 90 clinics and hospitals. The 25-bed hospital's 60-member medical staff treats 1,500 inpatients annually, and its emergency room sees 10,000 patients each year. In 2018, Hudson Hospital & Clinic earned Practice Greenhealth's Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award. The same year, Healthgrades gave the hospital five stars for heart failure treatment.

Iowa Specialty Hospital & Clinics-Belmond (Iowa). CMS designated Iowa Specialty Hospital & Clinics-Belmond a five-star hospital in 2017. In the same year, Press Ganey gave the hospital its Guardian of Excellence Award for outstanding patient experience in three areas: emergency department, inpatient care and HCAHPS. In 2018, Healthgrades honored Iowa Specialty Hospital & Clinics-Belmond with its Outstanding Patient Experience Award, and The Chartis Group for Patient Satisfaction named it among the nation's Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals.

Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center. Jamestown Regional Medical Center began operating nearly 90 years ago. Today, nine physicians staff the 25-bed independent hospital, which collected four CMS stars in 2017. In addition, iVantage featured Jamestown Regional Medical Center on its Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list for the past five years.

Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital (Ellensburg, Wash.). In 2017, Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital received the Washington State Hospital Association's Rural Quality: Everyday Extraordinary Award. The award recognized the hospital's sepsis task force, which successfully reduced sepsis cases in patients. In August 2017, Kittitas Valley Healthcare completed a new strategic plan outlining four major areas of development: access to care, partnerships and collaborations, community engagement, and financial sustainability. The hospital also features a level 4 trauma center.

Madison (S.D.) Regional Health System. Nonprofit, independent Madison Regional Health System began serving its community more than 100 years ago. In 2015, the old Madison Community Hospital was replaced with a brand-new facility, constructed with two independent physician clinics to create today's Madison Regional Health System building. The 22-bed hospital is staffed by 260 employees, including six family practice physicians, an internal medicine physician and a general surgeon.

Magruder Hospital (Port Clinton, Ohio). Magruder Hospital sees 74,526 outpatient visits and 15,717 emergency room visits annually. In 2018, Healthgrades awarded the hospital its Outpatient Experience Award for outstanding patient experience. Magruder Hospital also took home Healthgrades' Patient Safety Excellence Award in 2017. The hospital reports about 830 inpatient and 32,909 physician office visits annually.

Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar (Menomonie, Wis.). In 1995, the original clinic in Menomonie affiliated with Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System. Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar has served its community since 2011. The hospital operates the Free Clinic of the Greater Menomonie Area, which offers primary and preventive healthcare services. In 2017, Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar picked up Healthgrades' Patient Safety Excellence Award for its work in preventing infections, medical errors and other adverse events.

Memorial Hospital (Seward, Neb.). Twenty-five bed Memorial Hospital has been serving Seward County, Neb., for the last 68 years. In 2018, iVantage Health Analytics placed the hospital among the nation's top 100 critical access hospitals — an honor it has achieved every year since 2015. The National Rural Health Association also featured Memorial Hospital on its list of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals Best Practice in Quality in 2016.

Mercy Hospital Kingfisher (Okla.). Mercy Hospital Kingfisher is a 25-bed facility serving Kingfisher County in western Oklahoma. The hospital is part of St. Charles, Mo.-based Mercy, a nonprofit health system. In 2017, the National Rural Health Association named Mercy Hospital Kingfisher a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital for Quality Care in the U.S. The hospital was one of three rural facilities in Oklahoma honored with the title.

Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center-Walworth (Lake Geneva, Wis.). Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center-Walworth is part of Rockford, Ill.-based Mercyhealth system. The six-bed hospital is staffed by 131 physicians and has a designated level 3 trauma center. Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center-Walworth operated one of the few freestanding emergency rooms in Wisconsin. The hospital also is a trailblazer in stroke care, the first hospital in the state to achieve acute stroke-ready certification.

Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center-Harvard (Ill.). The 13-bed Mercyhealth Hospital & Medical Center is the first critical access hospital in Illinois to earn the Joint Commission distinction of certified acute stroke-ready hospital, providing its patients access to stroke expertise 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In January, the hospital's emergency department earned Illinois Department of Public Health approval. The hospital is also Magnet-certified for excellence in nursing and boasts an infection rate of zero for vascular, orthopedics and laparoscopic procedures. The staff at Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center-Harvard includes 81 physicians.

Mount Desert Island Hospital (Bar Harbor, Maine). As a nonprofit critical access hospital, Mount Desert Island Hospital can trace its roots to 1897 when it was founded as a 10-bed medical facility. More than a century later, the hospital has grown into a 25-bed facility and is Mount Desert Island's second-largest employer, boasting a staff of more than 500 people. In 2011, the hospital entered a teaching partnership with Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine which established the hospital as a premier rural healthcare facility for emergency medicine and critical care. In 2016, the hospital earned distinction from Maine Emergency Medical Services as Trauma System Hospital of the Year.

Myrtue Medical Center (Harlan, Iowa). Myrtue Medical Center is an integrated healthcare facility that operates five medical clinics outside of Harlan, a family wellness center, a behavioral health center and an aquatic complex. In 2018, Myrtue Medical Center earned distinction from iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the U.S. for the seventh consecutive year. Myrtue Medical Center regularly hosts more than 30 visiting physicians who hold specialty care clinics in Harlan weekly, biweekly and monthly.

Newman Regional Health (Emporia, Kan.). Newman Regional Health has served the seven-county area surrounding Emporia since 1922. The hospital is staffed by 225 volunteers and more than 500 employees, including 130 physicians — 28 of whom are on the hospital's medical staff. In 2016 and 2017, Newman Regional Health earned back-to-back recognition from iVantage Health Analytics as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital.

New Ulm (Minn.) Medical Center. New Ulm Medical Center is a nonprofit hospital and an affiliate of Minneapolis-based Allina Health. It serves central Minnesota communities with a staff of more than 30 physicians. In 2018, NUMC earned its seventh designation as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital from iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group. Also in 2018, the hospital earned its third consecutive Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades.

OSF HealthCare St. Paul Medical Center (Mendota, Ill.). OSF HealthCare St. Paul Medical Center has been serving the Mendota area for more than 65 years, opening a new 25-bed facility in 2011. With a staff of more than 300, OSF St. Paul is one of its community's largest employers. In 2017, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network recognized St. Paul Medical Center for its commitment to quality care.

Orange City (Iowa) Area Health System. Orange City Area Health System sits on a 37-acre campus and comprises four family medicine clinics, a hospital and a behavioral health clinic, among other offerings. The Orange City team includes 19 family medicine providers and 500 support staff employees. Regularly recognized for delivering a quality patient experience, Orange City Hospital earned back-to-back Outstanding Patient Experience Awards from Healthgrades in 2016 and 2017. From 2015-17, Women's Choice Award named Orange City one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience.

PeaceHealth Cottage Grove (Ore.) Community Medical Center. With 14 licensed beds and a 118-member medical staff, PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center offers care to a service area of about 42,000 residents. From July 2016 to June 2017, the Cottage Grove medical center saw more than 12,000 emergency department visits and 448 inpatient admissions. In 2016, Cottage Grove earned recognition on The Chartis Group and iVantage Health Analytics' Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list.

Perry County Memorial Hospital (Perryville, Mo.). Since 1951, Perry County Memorial Hospital has been providing care to the Perryville community. The hospital now comprises 20 specialty clinics in a 103,000-square-foot facility. Additionally, Perry County Memorial Hospital offers numerous community services, including health screenings and transportation for patients. In 2016, the National Rural Health Association recognized Perry County Memorial Hospital as one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation.

Pike County Memorial Hospital (Louisiana, Mo.). Pike County Memorial Hospital has been serving the residents of Pike County since 1928. The acute care hospital provides inpatient and outpatient care, offers 24-7 emergency care and operates ambulance service for the entire Pike County area. The National Rural Health Association designated Pike County Memorial Hospital a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital best practice for quality recipient in 2016.

Steele Memorial Medical Center (Salmon, Idaho). Steele Memorial Medical Center, founded in 1950, is a nonprofit, 18-bed critical access hospital with a level 4 trauma center and associated rural health clinic. The hospital, which has about 50 clinicians, earned recognition as a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital by the National Rural Health Association in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2017, Steele Memorial Clinic completed a 17,000-square-foot addition to its specialty clinic, which expanded the hospital's outpatient capacity.

Tahoe Forest Hospital (Truckee, Calif.). The 25-bed Tahoe Forest Hospital was founded in 1951 after a local family donated land for it. Now, the hospital serves six rural counties encompassing 3,500 square miles. In 2009, Tahoe Forest Hospital was designated UC Davis' first rural center for excellence for its willingness to embrace new approaches to care delivery in rural communities.

Teton Valley Hospital (Diggs, Idaho). Teton Valley Hospital opened in 1938 as a four-bed facility. It has since expanded to a 13-bed hospital that employs 160 people, including four physicians. In fiscal year 2017, Teton Valley Hospital clinicians saw 7,864 outpatients, served 1,968 emergency room patients and conducted 19,875 health clinic exams. Teton Valley Hospital also became the first critical access hospital in Idaho to earn triple designations as a level 4 trauma center, level 2 STEMI, and level 3 stroke care facility in 2017. In 2017, Teton Valley Hospital was recognized for overall excellence in quality for its top quartile performance among all rural hospitals in the nation by The Chartis Group, iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

Tomah (Wis.) Memorial Hospital. Tomah Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1952 and has since grown to include an eight-bed hospice and palliative care unit. The hospital employs 378 people who oversaw 38,864 outpatient visits and 1,298 inpatient discharges in fiscal year 2017. In 2017, Tomah officials broke ground on a $66 million three-story hospital that will expand the hospital's reach in western Wisconsin. Tomah Memorial was honored as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in 2014, 2015 and 2016 by the National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute, iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group.

Transylvania Regional Hospital (Brevard, N.C.). Transylvania Regional Hospital, a member of Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health, was founded in 1933 by two physicians. It has since grown into a 92-bed hospital with more than 150 volunteers and 600 employees, including 120 physicians. In 2018, Transylvania Regional Hospital opened an emergency department featuring 12 exam rooms, four of which are dedicated to behavioral health.

University Hospitals Geneva (Ohio) Medical Center. University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center, a 25-bed facility that is part of the Cleveland-based University Hospitals network, was founded in 1906 as an emergency hospital. It has since grown into a federally designated critical access hospital with inpatient and outpatient services spanning 25 specialties. The hospital serves a community in a 20-mile radius of Geneva.

UT Health Quitman (Texas). UT Health Quitman, a 25-bed facility formerly known as ETMC Quitman, joined the UT Health family in 2018 when Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler finalized their purchase of Tyler-based East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System. The hospital employs 181 people, including 18 physicians. In 2017, the hospital was recognized for excellence in patient satisfaction by the Texas Office of Rural Health.

Wabash General Hospital (Mount Carmel, Ill.). Wabash General Hospital opened in 1951 as a 52-bed, 18-bassinet facility. In 1980, the board decided to build a one-story hospital instead of renovating the old building, and in 2003, it was designated a critical access hospital. Today, the 25-bed facility, which employs 20 physicians, is overseen by a nine-member board of directors appointed by the county commissioners.

Waldo County General Hospital (Belfast, Maine). Waldo County General Hospital, established in 1901, is a member of Portland-based MaineHealth and Coastal Healthcare Alliance, the parent company of Pen Bay Healthcare in Rockport, Maine, and Waldo County Healthcare in Belfast, Maine. The 25-bed nonprofit critical access hospital had 1,486 inpatient admissions, 122,251 outpatient visits and 15,576 ED visits in fiscal year 2017. It was designated a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by the National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute, iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Group in 2017.

West River Regional Medical Center (Hettinger, N.D.). West River Regional Medical Center is part of West River Health Services, a rural healthcare organization with 17 physicians and six community clinics in addition to the hospital. The 25-bed hospital is composed of 20 acute care beds, a swing bed unit, two intensive-care unit beds and four outpatient rooms. The National Rural Health Association recognized the medical center as one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center (Colfax, Wash.). Whitman Hospital and Medical Center was founded in 1893 by the Sisters of Charity of Providence as a temporary hospital in a building the size of a one-car garage. The hospital moved to its current location in 1968, was designated a critical access hospital in 2003 and got a facility revamp in 2009. Today, the 25-bed hospital serves a 1,200-square-mile district and employs 200 people, including 47 physicians. In 2018, Whitman Hospital was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by iVantage and the Chartis Group.

UCHealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital (Woodland Park, Colo.). The 15-bed UCHealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital was built in 2007 and features two operating rooms and a level 4 trauma center. UCHealth acquired Pikes Peak from Boston-based Steward Health Care System in April 2018, although UCHealth Medical Group physicians had provided specialists and services to the hospital for years. The hospital has about 486 annual admissions and 8,194 annual emergency room visits, with an average daily census of six. Of the hospital's 155 employees, 68 are on the medical staff.

ProMedica Defiance (Ohio) Regional Hospital. ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital is a 25-bed facility with a faculty of 18 physicians. ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital was built in 2002 and is designated as a level 3 trauma center. The hospital received a 2017 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for physician engagement and a 2016 Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence Award for employee engagement. The hospital opened a second 41,000-square-foot medical office building 60 miles southwest of Toledo in June.

Providence Hood River (Ore.) Memorial Hospital. The 25-bed Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital had 1,600 inpatient admissions in 2017 and 10,818 emergency room visits. The hospital received the 2018 American Heart Association Stroke Readiness Silver Plus Award, the Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award 2018, baby-friendly certification from World Health Organization in 2016 and was ranked the No. 1 hospital for safety in Oregon by Consumer Reports in 2015. For its community involvement, Providence Hood River received the 2016 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize.

Richland Hospital (Richland Center, Wis.). Richland Hospital was established as a 14-bed facility with seven employees and has grown over the years to include 25 beds and a staff of more than 300 employees. Located 60 miles west of Madison, Wis., the hospital earned a spot on The Chartis Group and iVantage Health Analytics' list of Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals for six consecutive years, most recently in 2017. The hospital earned a Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission, and its birthing center earned the baby-friendly designation from the World Health Organization.

River Falls (Wis.) Area Hospital. River Falls Area Hospital was founded in 1939, and its current campus opened in 1992. It includes Allina Health River Falls Clinics, Vibrant Health Family Clinics and several specialty provider partners. In January, the hospital launched a telemedicine program. The 25-bed hospital has more than 250 employees and 156 physicians on staff. The Chartis Group and iVantage Health Analytics recognized the hospital among its Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals of 2018.

River's Edge Hospital & Clinic (St. Peter, Minn.). River's Edge Hospital is a 25-bed hospital founded in 1924. Since then, it's partnered with Mankato, Minn.-based Orthopaedic and Fracture Clinic in 2014 to form a joint replacement program and the Mankato Clinic in 2016 to add a dermatology clinic. The hospital is planning a $33.8 million expansion to add patient wings, two surgical suites and more beds.

Riverwood Healthcare Center (Aitkin, Minn.). The 25-bed Riverwood Healthcare Center opened in 1955 and in 2013 completed $21 million in renovations, including converting all inpatient areas from semiprivate to single-occupancy rooms. Through its partnership with Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Riverwood Health Center is a level 1 heart attack hospital. In 2017, Riverwood Healthcare Center was recognized as a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital by the National Rural Health Association. The hospital is raising funds for a $14.9 million renovation and expansion of its Aitkin clinic campus.

Sanford Luverne (Minn.) Medical Center. Sanford Luverne Medical Center is a 25-bed critical access hospital and attached clinic with 250 employees and 210 volunteers. The hospital is served by seven family medicine physicians, two certified nurse practitioners, an OB/GYN and several visiting physician specialists. In 2016, Sanford Luverne opened its 1,300-square-foot Edgerton Clinic. Within the last year, Sanford Luverne has been included in the National Rural Health Association's Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals list and earned the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award.

Smith County Memorial Hospital (Smith Center, Kan.). Smith County Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital built in 1951. In early 2015, the hospital launched a five-year campaign to raise $2 million for a new facility and has raised more than $1.3 million so far. The Chartis Group and iVantage Health Analytics named Smith County Memorial Hospital to its 2018 list of Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the U.S. The hospital's medical staff includes five physicians and three nurse practitioners.

Speare Memorial Hospital (Plymouth, N.H.). Speare Memorial Hospital was founded in 1899 and reopened after a $15 million renovation in November 2006. The hospital added 23,000 square feet in the renovation and accommodated 14,850 emergency room visits in 2017 along with 61,397 outpatient registrations. The hospital added a sleep lab in 2011 and a wound care and hyperbaric medicine center in 2014.

 

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