JCH&L Among Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals 2024
For the ninth time in 11 years, Jefferson Community Health & Life has been named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
“We are pleased to be recognized again for our daily commitment to providing the best health care possible to residents of Jefferson County and beyond, while maintaining an efficient and effective facility,” said Burke Kline, DHA, MHA, MBA, CHFP, FACHE, CEO of Jefferson Community Health & Life.
Jefferson Community Health & Life scored in the top 100 of critical access hospitals (CAHs) on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™ for 2024, and previously in 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, and 2014. The annual Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award is based on the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX ® from iVantage Health Analytics, and is regarded as one of the industry’s most significant designations of performance excellence.
Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility scored in the top 100 among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally. Now in its 14th year, the INDEX has established itself as the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is trusted by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance. Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility had one of the 100 highest overall scores among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally.
“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.”
The list of this year’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals, as well as the 2023 INDEX methodology, can be found at: https://www.chartis.com/top-performing-rural-hospitals
JCH&L is among 14 Nebraska critical access hospitals to make the Top 100 list for 2023. Others are: Annie Jeffrie Memorial County Health Center, Osceola; Antelope Memorial Hospital, Neligh; Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, Beatrice; Boone County Health Center, Albion; Brodstone Memorial Hospital, Superior; Butler County Healthcare Center, David City; Cherry County Hospital, Valentine; CHI Health St. Mary’s, Nebraska City; Community Medical Center, Falls City; Crete Area Medical Center, Crete; Howard County Medical Center, St. Paul; Valley County Hospital, Ord; and York General Hospital, York.
In May 2020, JCH&L was recognized by The Chartis Center and the National Rural Health Association for being in the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation for quality. In May 2018, JCH&L was recognized for being in the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals overall in the nation.
In November 2023, JCH&L was recognized with a Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality and Patient Perspective. The Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (75th percentile and above) among rural hospitals in quality, outcomes and patient perspective. Jefferson Community Health & Life has previously been recognized with the NOSORH/iVantage Performance Leadership award for quality and patient perspective in 2022 and 2021; quality in 2020; for quality, outcomes and patient perspective in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and for financial strength and patient satisfaction in 2016.
“These recognitions reaffirm that our emphasis on quality, performance and satisfaction are making a difference to the people we serve and to our health center. It is because of the work and care of our staff, physicians and board, and the support of the people of Jefferson County and beyond that we are able to meet and surpass these benchmarks and receive recognition,” Kline said.
