O’NEILL, Neb. (April 17, 2026) – Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital was recently named one of the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAHs) for overall performance in the country.
The top 20 CAHs, including Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital, scored best among CAHs as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The rankings were recently announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). An awards ceremony will be held during NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, Mo.
The top 20 CAHs have achieved success in overall performance based on a composite rating from eight indices of strength: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and finance. This group was selected from the Chartis Center for Rural Health’s 2026 top 100 CAH list, which was released earlier this year.
“This is an achievement of which Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital is proud – especially considering the challenging experience we have had recovering from damage related to a natural gas explosion that occurred adjacent to our property in October 2024,” said John Kozyra, President and CEO of Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital. “This recognition is evidence of the resilience and commitment of our physicians, advanced practice providers and staff. Their dedication to providing high-quality care to O’Neill and the surrounding region is evident every day, and I’m grateful to be a part of such an exemplary team.”
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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.
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 is made up of diverse individuals and organizations from across the country, 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.
