JCH&L Among Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals for 2025
For the tenth time in 12 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. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®.
“JCH&L has a great track record of providing quality and compassionate care to area residents. We are pleased to be recognized for the results of our commitment to providing the best health care possible to residents of Jefferson County and beyond,” said Holly Wolff, MHA, CEO of Jefferson Community Health and Life. “Our providers and care teams are proud to provide exceptional care and inspire our community to a lifetime of health.”
Jefferson Community Health & Life scored in the top 100 of critical access hospitals (CAHs) on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™ for 2025, and previously in 2024, 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 15th 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.
“The Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award program elevates the very best performers and helps create a roadmap for those seeking to improve financial and operational performance while continuing to care for the communities they serve,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “This is our 15th year recognizing the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this milestone with this year’s winners.”
The list of this year’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals can be found at: https://www.chartis.com/top-performing-rural-hospitals
JCH&L is among 15 Nebraska critical access hospitals to make the Top 100 list for 2025. Others are: Antelope Memorial Hospital, Neligh; Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, Beatrice; Boone County Health Center, Albion; Brodstone Memorial Hospital, Superior; CHI Health St. Mary’s, Nebraska City; Community Medical Center, Falls City; Crete Area Medical Center, Crete; Howard County Medical Center, St. Paul; Johnson County Hospital, Tecumseh; Melham Medical Center, Broken Bow; Memorial Health Care Systems, Seward; Phelps Memorial Health Center, Holdrege; Thayer County Health Services, Hebron.
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 2024, JCH&L was recognized with a Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality. 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 2023, 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 are because of the work and care of our providers, staff and board, and the support of the people of Jefferson County and beyond. The recognition reaffirms what we work hard to accomplish every day – provide exceptional health care to our area residents,” Wolff said.
