Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County in Lyons, KS 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®.
“As CEO of Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County, I am immensely proud to announce our recognition as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This prestigious award reaffirms our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional healthcare services to our community, said George Stover. It’s a testament to the dedication of our providers, our team, the trust of our patients, and the resilience of Rice County. We are honored to be recognized among the best, and we remain steadfast in our mission to deliver compassionate care, innovation, and excellence to all those we serve.”
“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.”
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.
Critical access hospitals play a vital role in delivering healthcare services to rural communities, often serving as the primary source of care for residents in these areas. Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County’s inclusion in the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list underscores its importance as a healthcare provider in the region and its ongoing efforts to meet the unique needs of its rural population.
The leadership team at Hospital District No. 1 remains committed to advancing healthcare excellence, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing the overall well-being of the community it serves.