VDMC Earns Top 100 Critical Access Hospital Award

WEBSTER CITY, IA | Van Diest Medical Center today announced it has been recognized as a 2024 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program recognizes outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®. 

“The Top 100 Award is a tremendous honor, and we are extremely proud to be recognized as one of the rural hospitals from across the country that demonstrates a commitment to excellence and innovation,” said Lisa Ridge, Chief Executive Officer of Van Diest Medical Center. “We applaud our entire team of caregivers for their support and dedication in helping us achieve this recognition.” 

“During an era of profound uncertainty for rural healthcare, the Top 100 rural hospitals continue to provide a unique lens through which we can identify innovation and inspiration for how to deliver high quality care to increasingly vulnerable populations,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to be able to recognize all this year’s Top 100 but especially the more than 40 first-time recipients across both categories. It’s wonderful to see so many new facilities join the ranks of our Top 100 alumni.” 

This marks the second year for VDMC’s inclusion on the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals.  VDMC is one of only 12 hospitals in the state of Iowa to achieve this designation.  Nationwide, there are 1,366 critical access hospitals. The complete list of 2024 Top 100 award winners can be found here.  

Now in its 14th year, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Featuring a methodology utilizing publicly available data, the INDEX is leveraged nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.