Area Rural Hospitals Hospitals Achieve National Distinction

By MED Staff

Brookings Health System, Brookings, South Dakota

Several rural hospitals across South Dakota and Iowa have earned prestigious national recognition on the 2025 Chartis Center for Rural Health's Top 100 lists, with some achieving the even more elite Top 20 status from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

Four area critical access hospitals in MED Magazine's coverage area earned places on the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list. These facilities include Floyd Valley Healthcare (LeMars, IA), Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital (Miller, SD), Hans P Peterson Memorial Hospital (Phillip, SD), and Madison Regional Health (Madison, SD). 

"Being recognized for the 9th year in a row reflects something deeper than metrics," says Matt Campion, Administrator at Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital. "It represents our team's steadfast commitment to providing high-quality care close to home. In central South Dakota, where healthcare access can be limited by geography, this mission takes on profound significance."

It's a sentiment echoed by Madison Regional Health System CEO Teresa Mallett who attributes their Top 100 CAH designation to "remarkable employees whose commitment to excellence shapes every patient interaction."

The region also finished strong in the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals category, with eight area facilities earning spots on this list. Iowa representatives in our coverage area include Lakes Regional Healthcare (Spirit Lake) and Spencer Hospital (Spencer). There were six honorees in South Dakota including Avera Sacred Heart Hospital (Yankton), Avera St. Luke's Hospital (Aberdeen), Avera St. Mary's Hospital (Pierre), Brookings Health System (Brookings), Monument Health Spearfish Hospital (Spearfish), and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (Watertown).

Brookings Health System has maintained a presence on the Rural & Community Hospitals list since the program's inception in 2016 but their performance in the 2025 assessment provided even more reason to celebrate. Their score of 99.9 percent ranks them as the highest-performing rural prospective payment system hospital nationwide.

"This recognition stems directly from our team's dedication to providing world-class care with optimal outcomes for every patient, every time," says Jason Merkley, President and CEO of Brookings Health System. Their approach has also earned Brookings Top 20 status from the National Rural Health Association for the eighth time since 2016—joining regional peers Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and Spencer Hospital in this elite category.

Similarly impressive is Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, which has received Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital designation annually since the award's creation. "Being one of only six South Dakota hospitals receiving this honor reflects our medical staff's unwavering commitment to excellence," says President and CEO John Allen.

Now in its 15th year, the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX provides comprehensive, objective evaluation across eight pillars of excellence, including quality, cost, and patient engagement. The INDEX utilizes publicly available data to assess performance metrics that serve as benchmarks for rural facilities nationwide.

You can see all of the Top 100 winners, including facilities across MED’s wider coverage area, HERE.