Howard Memorial Hospital Earns Top 100 Critical Access Hospital Award from The Chartis Center for Rural Health

February 21, 2024 – Howard Memorial Hospital in Nashville, Arkansas today announced it has been recognized as a 2024 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program recognizes outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®.

“Howard Memorial Hospital is proud of the efforts of its physicians and staff who have contributed to our hospital achieving this designation,” said John Hearnsberger, MD, CEO. A team committed to our mission of Quality Care Close to Home lead by our volunteer board members and including the medical staff, employees and auxiliary is responsible for this accomplishment. I would like to thank them for making this award possible. Being awarded one of the top 100 critical access hospitals sends a strong message as to why patients should choose Howard Memorial Hospital for their healthcare services. This award is proof of our ability to provide cost-effective, patient-centered, quality care to Nashville and its surrounding communities. I hope the entire community will join us in celebrating this tremendous accomplishment and continue to show its support by making Howard Memorial Hospital the hospital of choice. “

“During an era of profound uncertainty for rural healthcare, the Top 100 rural hospitals continue to provide a unique lens through which we can identify innovation and inspiration for how to deliver high quality care to increasingly vulnerable populations,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to be able to recognize all this year’s Top 100 but especially the more than 40 first-time recipients across both categories. It’s wonderful to see so many new facilities join the ranks of our Top 100 alumni.”

Now in its 14th year, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Featuring a methodology utilizing publicly available data, the INDEX is leveraged 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.