PHC named a top Critical Access Hospital

For the fourth year in a row, Patterson Health Center (PHC) has been recognized as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the United States. This prestigious honor is awarded annually by The Chartis Center for Rural Health and remains the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance.

Out of nearly 1,400 critical access hospitals across the nation, Patterson Health Center is one of only 100 to receive this distinction for 2026. PHC is also proud to be among an elite group of just 12 hospitals in the state of Kansas to earn a spot on this year’s list.

The Chartis Top 100 selection is based on the Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, which leverages publicly available data to measure hospitals across eight pillars of excellence: Quality, Outcomes, Patient Perspective, Cost, Charge, Finance, and Market Share. Unlike other awards, the INDEX is data-driven and cannot be applied for, making it a true "report card" of a hospital’s impact on its community.

"The delivery of care within rural communities is more complex today than at any point in recent memory," said Michael Topchik, Executive Director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. "This year’s Top 100 winners have emerged as true leaders—committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication, and innovation."

Patterson Health Center has consistently outperformed national benchmarks since its inception in 2019, bridging the gap between advanced medical technology and the personal touch of small-town healthcare. This fourth consecutive win underscores PHC’s status as a leader in the Kansas healthcare landscape.