Top 100 Rural Hospital Recognition
March 31, 2025
For over 125 years, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese has been an integral part of the rural community, providing essential, high-quality health care services.
While not done for accolades, there is pride in announcing that HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States for 2025. This prestigious honor is given by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, which uses their INDEX, a detailed and objective assessment to evaluate how well rural hospitals perform in key areas like patient care, finances and hospital operations.
Additionally, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) recently named HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital to their Top 20 Rural & Community Hospitals based on the Chartis Center for Rural Health INDEX. The NRHA’s Top 20 Rural & Community Hospitals winners are the highest ranked of the aggregate scores across eight pillars of excellence: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and finance.
“We are honored to be recognized again as one of the Top Rural & Community Hospitals in the U.S.,” said Mandi Ennen, HSHS St. Joseph’s Chief Administrative Officer. “This achievement is only possible because of the outstanding work and service provided by our medical staff members, colleagues and volunteers. It demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality care, exceptional patient experience, operational excellence and economic stability for our community.”
“The Top 100 Rural & Community 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 10th year recognizing the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this milestone with this year’s winners.”
The INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is utilized 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.
While not done for accolades, there is pride in announcing that HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States for 2025. This prestigious honor is given by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, which uses their INDEX, a detailed and objective assessment to evaluate how well rural hospitals perform in key areas like patient care, finances and hospital operations.
Additionally, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) recently named HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital to their Top 20 Rural & Community Hospitals based on the Chartis Center for Rural Health INDEX. The NRHA’s Top 20 Rural & Community Hospitals winners are the highest ranked of the aggregate scores across eight pillars of excellence: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and finance.
“We are honored to be recognized again as one of the Top Rural & Community Hospitals in the U.S.,” said Mandi Ennen, HSHS St. Joseph’s Chief Administrative Officer. “This achievement is only possible because of the outstanding work and service provided by our medical staff members, colleagues and volunteers. It demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality care, exceptional patient experience, operational excellence and economic stability for our community.”
“The Top 100 Rural & Community 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 10th year recognizing the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this milestone with this year’s winners.”
The INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is utilized 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.
Media Contact
Micalli Muschinske
Communications & Public Relations Specialist