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Ten North Dakota Critical Access Hospitals Named to Top 100

Feb 12, 2026

Ten Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in North Dakota have been named to the Top 100 CAHs for 2026 according to the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Top 100 CAHs are top performers, excelling in financial efficiency, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, and operating at a lower cost than their peers across the U.S.

Jody Ward

Jody Ward, grant program director for the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, oversees the North Dakota CAH Quality Network, and the North Dakota Rural Health Clinic Network, located at the Center for Rural Health (CRH), part of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

"We are proud to see so many North Dakota CAHs represented this year," said Ward. "Our hospitals have continually kept up with an influx of patients while maintaining the high-quality patient care we are known for across North Dakota. To see ten of our hospitals being recognized in the Top 100 means we are doing things correctly," she stated.

Dr. Jacob Warren

Jacob Warren, director of CRH, emphasized the importance of rural health throughout the state. "Particularly for our state, rural hospitals are the heartbeat of our communities, and the high level of care they provide, along with being mindful of costs, will continue to improve the health of our citizens."

The Chartis Group provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the healthcare industry. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, informatics and technology, and health analytics, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children's hospitals, and healthcare service organizations achieve transformative results. The Chartis Center for Rural Health is a division of The Chartis Group.

North Dakota CAHs Recognized