JCH&L Among Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals for 2026
FAIRBURY, NE – For the 11th time in 13 years, Jefferson Community Health & Life has been named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®.
“JCH&L is proud to provide quality and compassionate care to area residents. It is gratifying to be recognized for the results of our commitment,” said Holly Wolff, MHA, CEO of Jefferson Community Health and Life. “Our staff and providers constantly strive to provide exceptional care and inspire our community to a lifetime of health.”
Jefferson Community Health & Life scored in the top 100 of critical access hospitals (CAHs) on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™ for 2026, and previously in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, and 2014. The annual Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award is regarded as one of the industry’s most significant designations of performance excellence.
Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility scored in the top 100 among more than 1,380 Critical Access Hospitals nationally. Now in its 16th year, the INDEX has established itself as the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is trusted by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.
“The delivery of care within rural communities is perhaps more complex today than at any point in recent memory. This year’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals have emerged as true leaders – committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication and innovation,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to recognize this year’s winners and celebrate their Top 100 status.”
The list of this year’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals can be found at: https://www.chartis.com/top-performing-rural-hospitals
JCH&L is among 11 Nebraska critical access hospitals to make the Top 100 list for 2026. Others are: Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, Beatrice; Crete Area Medical Center, Crete; Community Medical Center, Falls City; Henderson Health Care, Henderson; Phelps Memorial Health Center, Holdrege; CHI Health St Mary’s, Nebraska City; Avera St Anthony’s Hospital, O’Neill; Memorial Health Care Systems, Seward; Brodstone Healthcare, Superior; York General Hospital, York.
In May 2020, JCH&L was recognized by The Chartis Center and the National Rural Health Association for being one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation for quality. In May 2018, JCH&L was recognized for being one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals overall in the nation.
In November 2025, JCH&L was recognized with a Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality. The Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (75th percentile and above) among rural hospitals in quality, outcomes and patient perspective. Jefferson Community Health & Life has previously been recognized with the NOSORH/iVantage Performance Leadership award for quality in 2024; quality and patient perspective in 2023, 2022 and 2021; quality in 2020; quality, outcomes and patient perspective in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and for financial strength and patient satisfaction in 2016.
“Recognition as one of the top Critical Access Hospitals in the nation reaffirms what we work hard to accomplish every day: exceptional health care,” Wolff said.
