Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Named Top 20 Rural and Community Hospital
YANKTON, SD (March 26, 2026) – Avera Sacred Heart Hospital was recently named one of the top 20 rural and community hospitals in the country.
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has announced the 20 highest-ranked prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals in the country based on an evaluation by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The hospitals are identified using the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, the most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural PPS hospital performance. These hospitals will be recognized May 21 during NRHA’s Annual Rural Health Conference in San Diego.
The determining factors for the top 20 rural and community hospitals are based on eight indices: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and finance.
“Avera Sacred Heart Hospital is grateful for and proud of the efforts of its physicians and staff who have contributed to our hospital achieving this designation,” said Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Regional President and CEO Victoria Hanson. “We have been included in this top 20 list four of the last seven years, demonstrating a pattern of providing high-quality care that can only be accomplished through extraordinary teamwork. Our recognition as a top health care provider means our community can count on us to deliver the services they need now and in the future.”
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital was also recently named among the Top 100 Rural and Community (PPS) Hospitals for 2026 by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The top 20 list from the NRHA is a subset of the Chartis list. Avera Sacred Heart Hospital has been listed among the Top 100 each of the 11 years the list has been compiled and is among only 11 rural and community hospitals nationwide to have this distinction.
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About NRHA
NRHA is a nonprofit organization working to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. NRHA’s membership consists of unique individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.
About Chartis
Chartis is a comprehensive health care advisory firm dedicated to helping clients build a healthier world. We work across the health care continuum with more than 900 clients annually, including providers, payers, health services organizations, technology and retail companies, and investors. Through times of change, challenge, and opportunity, we advise the industry on how to navigate disruption, pursue growth, achieve financial sustainability, unleash technology, improve care models and operations, enhance clinical quality and safety, and advance health equity. The teams we convene bring deep industry expertise and industry leading innovation, enabling clients to achieve transformational results and create positive societal impact. For more information, visit www.chartis.com.
About Avera:
The Avera Health system has 22,100 employees and physicians, serving more than 315 locations and 100 communities in a five-state region. Our ministry, our people and our superior value distinguish Avera. We carry on the health care legacy of the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters, delivering care in an environment guided by our values of compassion, hospitality and stewardship. For more information about Avera, visit our website at Avera.org.
