(OMAHA, Neb.) - Four Alegent Creighton Health hospitals have been named to the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) for Quality in the country by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

The NRHA announced that the Top 20 hospitals - including Alegent Creighton Health Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley, Iowa, Alegent Creighton Health Mercy Hospital in Corning, Iowa, Alegent Creighton Health Memorial Hospital in Schuyler, Neb., and Memorial Community Hospital & Health System in Blair, Neb. - scored best among critical access hospitals on the iVantage Health Analytics Hospital Strength Index™. This comprehensive rating of critical access hospitals recognizes top performance as a critical safety net to rural communities across the country – measuring hospitals on performance metrics including quality outcomes, patient perspective and financial stability.

Alegent Creighton Health President and Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Hachten II, FACHE, said that high quality scores are important to everyone.

“To have our hospitals recognized for their performance is an honor, but even without the recognition, providing high-quality care is our focus every day,” said Hachten. “We are dedicated to leading the transformation of healthcare in every community we serve.”

Rural hospitals play a critical role in providing needed care to Americans, with challenges completely different from urban hospitals in terms of access, but just as complex in terms of healthcare delivery, said Rod Triplett, Alegent Creighton Health regional executive for network development.

“We work hard every day to rise to the occasion and address the healthcare challenges facing rural residents and to find new solutions that ensure quality care and the best healthcare outcomes,” said Triplett.

For more information on the NRHA and the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation, go to RuralHealthWeb.org. For more information on awards earned by Alegent Creighton Health, visit AlegentCreighton.com/Awards.

About Alegent Creighton Health:
With a commitment to providing high-quality care and an exceptional patient experience, Alegent Creighton Health physicians and employees are focused on caring for the body, mind and spirit of every person. Patients find a continuum of care at Alegent Creighton Health, from primary care through geriatrics. Alegent Creighton Health is the largest not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare provider in Nebraska and southwest Iowa with 11 acute care hospitals, a specialty spine hospital, freestanding inpatient psychiatric and skilled nursing facilities and more than 100 Alegent Creighton Clinic locations. As the primary teaching partner of Creighton University’s health sciences schools, Alegent Creighton Health and Alegent Creighton Clinic are committed to teaching the health professionals of the future. For more information about Alegent Creighton Health, visit AlegentCreighton.com.