National Rural Health Association names top 20 rural and community hospitals nationwide for 2021

The National Rural Health Association has released its annual list of the top 20 rural and community hospitals in the U.S. The list, released March 23, is based on an evaluation by the Chartis Center for Rural Health using the Hospital Strength Index. The factors considered in the ranking are: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and financial efficiency. The hospitals will be recognized on May 6 during the NRHA's virtual Rural Hospital Innovation Summit.

Here's the list in alphabetical order:

• Brookings Health System in Brookings, South Dakota
• Cedar City Hospital in Cedar City, Utah
• Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Nebraska
• Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Texas
• Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers in Bryan, Ohio 
• Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland, Maryland
• Guadalupe County Hospital in Santa Rosa, New Mexico
• Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, Texas 
• Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa 
• Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper, Indiana 
• Monroe Clinic in Monroe, Wisconsin 
• Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital in Cadillac, Michigan 
• Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt, Kansas 
• Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onancock, Virginia 
• Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana 
• Sevier Valley Hospital in Richfield, Utah 
• SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Baraboo in Baraboo, Wisconsin 
• St. John’s Health in Jackson, Wyoming
• UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado 
• Vail Health in Vail, Colorado

The NRHA also recently announced the winners of its 2021 Rural Health Awards, which you can view here, in recognition of outstanding individuals and organizations in rural health care.