Washington County Hospital and Clinics (WCHC) was recognized last month for its commitment to excellence in rural healthcare at the National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Critical Access Hospital Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
According to a release, the NRHA designated WCHC one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States this past April.
The NRHA’s evaluation, based on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance Index, assesses hospitals across eight categories: inpatient and outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and finance.
Critical access hospitals, which serve rural areas with limited healthcare options, play an essential role in ensuring local access to medical services. Of the 1,366 critical access hospitals in the U.S., including 80 in Iowa, WCHC has been recognized for its strong performance and commitment to its community.
“We are truly honored by this recognition,” said Todd Patterson, CEO of Washington County Hospital and Clinics. “This designation reaffirms our commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services to our community. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our outstanding staff, providers, and leadership team.”
Located at 400 E. Polk St. in Washington, the WCHC recently surpassed its 112th birthday. Since its inception, the system has continually added services, programming and equipment to meet the community’s needs, as evidenced by the following:
- Acquired the Family Medicine Clinic in February 2014.
- Developed a Cardiology Clinic in May 2015 to provide full-time cardiology services and cardiac rehabilitation to Washington County and surrounding areas.
- In December 2015, acquired Beans Pharmacy, a retail pharmacy with a long history in Washington. With the addition of a retail pharmacy, WCHC has increased programming to address preventative health and disease management.
- Opened the Neurology Clinic in April 2016 to provide full-time neurology services and home sleep studies.
- Developed a long-term care program to provide on-site care for the nursing homes in its service area in January 2017.
- Developed a Hospitalist Program in February 2017 to provide specialized care and coordinated care for patients admitted to the hospital.
- Added Endocrinology and General Surgery as full-time services lines at WCHC in 2021
- In 2023, added Pulmonology as a full-time service line.
About NRHA:
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a nonprofit focused on addressing rural health issues through advocacy, education, communications, and research. Its membership includes a wide range of individuals and organizations from across the country with a shared interest in improving rural healthcare.