Delta County Memorial Hospital has been named as one of the 2016 top 20 rural community hospitals out of 525 rural community hospitals in the nation by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), in a recent announcement.
“DCMH is honored to receive this national recognition as a rural hospital providing quality medical care at the highest level to Delta County families. It is gratifying to receive an award and the recognition on behalf of our hard working and committed medical staff and hospital employees,” CEO Jason Cleckler said. NRHA determined the top rural community hospitals based on a hospital strength index compiled by iVantage Health Analytics and nine pillars of excellence. Rural community hospitals with the highest aggregate scores from the nine pillars were identified as one of the top 20 rural community hospitals in the nation. The pillars of excellence included:
- inpatient market share
- outpatient marketshare
- population risk
- cost
- risk
- quality
- outcomes
- patient outcomes
- financial stability.
”Thank you to the medical staff, hospital administration and all hospital employees for their commitment and contributions to the hospital, that allowed DCMH to achieve this national recognition in helping to provide superior medical services to the community,” commented David Lane, chair of the DCMH board of directors.
It is the first rating system to incorporate market position, competitive intensity and growing healthcare demand, according to sources at iVantage. This system is modeled on research-based financial rations most determinant of long-term financial sustainability. The study is unique because it is founded on the belief that a strong hospital/system has the following characteristics in the new health care:
Low Levels of population-related risk
Dominant market position related to inpatient and outpatient services
Outstanding quality and safety programs
Loyal, satisfied patients
Cost efficient and appropriately priced services
Strong balance sheet with surplus capital
The other Colorado hospital named by NRHA as in the top 20 rural community hospitals is Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs. NRHA is a national non-profit membership organization headquartered in Leawood, KS with more than 20,000 members across the nation. The association’s mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues. NRHA membership consists of a diverse collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.
