Avera Hospitals Named to National Top 100 Lists for 2025
Several Avera hospitals are listed among the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals in the United States for 2025 as named by the Chartis Center for Rural Health.
Facilities named to the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital list include:
- Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD (also Top 20)
- Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen, SD
- Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre, SD
- Lakes Regional Healthcare, Spirit Lake, Iowa (an Avera partner)
Facilities named to the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list include:
- Avera Granite Falls Health Center, Granite Falls, Minn.
- Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller, SD (also Top 20)
- Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital O’Neill, Neb.
- Floyd Valley Healthcare, Le Mars, Iowa (an Avera partner)
- Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic Avera (an Avera partner)
In addition, the National Rural Health Association named Avera Dells Area Hospital in Dell Rapids, SD, and Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley, IA, to the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals best practices list for patient satisfaction.
“Avera’s commitment to rural health care is evident by the quality of care provided at Avera hospitals and Avera partner facilities. Providing high quality care close to home is grounded in our mission, going back to the Sisters who founded early hospitals in Dakota Territory,” said Jim Dover, FACHE, Avera President and CEO. “Avera is proud to provide leading-edge care, research and top decile quality to families across our five-state region, in urban and rural areas alike.”
Now in its 15th year, this study analyzes rural hospitals through the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, a comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance in the United States. Leveraging publicly available data, the Index is a trusted resource across the country to measure and monitor performance across eight defined pillars of excellence, including quality, cost, and patient engagement. These hospitals serve as a benchmark for other rural facilities as they strive to achieve similar results and provide a blueprint for successfully navigating the uncertainty of the ever-changing health care environment.
“Each year, Avera continues to have numerous facilities that earn the Top 100 distinctions. This consistency is a testament to our focus on delivering high quality care, ensuring access and keeping health care affordable. In fact, there are 12 hospitals nationwide that have made the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital list 10 times, and both Avera Sacred Heart and Avera St. Luke’s are on that list. Having high quality care locally also strengthens communities and improves quality of life,” Dover said.
“The Top 100 Rural & Community and Critical Access Hospitals award programs elevate the very best performers and help 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.
