Six Utah rural and community hospitals recognized as nation’s best in 2023 rankings

By

Boram Kim

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Utah had six hospitals make the Chartis Group’s Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals 2023 list, tied for the second most of any state (behind South Dakota) with Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin. 

 

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The Chartis Group released the list last week based on its Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, which assesses rural hospitals across performance and quality measures. The six hospitals recognized were Ashley Regional Medical Center, Beat River Valley Hospital, Castleview Hospital, Cedar City Hospital, Park City Hospital, and Sevier Valley Medical Center. 

“Across the nation, top 100 rural providers continue to serve as a source of inspiration for hospital leadership teams and staff working diligently every day to improve the delivery of care within their local communities,” said Michael Topchik, national leader of the Chartis Center for Rural Health. “The list of award winners in each category is as geographically diverse as we’ve seen in some time, which is wonderful to see. We’re thrilled to be able to honor the outstanding efforts of these top-performing rural hospitals.”

In response to these high rankings, Utah Hospital Association’s Rural Hospital Improvement Director Greg Rosenvall told State of Reform that there was a high level of collaboration by larger systems operating in Utah to support rural hospitals with high-quality, low-cost resources.

“The rural hospitals in Utah show strength and resiliency,” Rosenvall said. “As rural hospitals close across the nation, not one rural hospital has closed in Utah and to the contrary [rural hospitals] have mostly thrived. This is indicative of strong leadership. The leaders of Utah’s rural hospitals are among the best anywhere. Favorable reimbursement by state Medicaid and third-party payers has helped with financial stability.”

Four Utah hospitals were ranked in the top 20 of the list: Cedar City Hospital, Castleview Hospital, Sevier Valley Medical Center, and Ashley Regional Medical Center. 

Ashley Regional Medical Center was recognized among the nation’s 100 best for the seventh consecutive year.

Cedar City Hospital, part of Intermountain Healthcare, had the unprecedented distinction of being among the top 20 for the eighth consecutive time. Eric Packer, administrator at Cedar City Hospital, said he was proud of and grateful for the exceptional caregivers at his hospital and attributed the award to their hard work and dedication.

“The fact Cedar City Hospital has earned this award eight years in a row, unprecedented in the history of the award, is the strongest of testaments to just how outstanding our workers are,” Packer said. “They have gone above and beyond through every challenge and change, and have risen above to lead our hospital forward. As the administrator, I want to thank each of them for all they do for our entire community and am thrilled for this achievement of receiving this award for eight years in a row now.”