(5-20-24) Mercer Health’s Mercer County Community Hospital was recently named one of the top 20 rural and community hospitals in the country by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). The NRHA ranking is based on an evaluation by the Chartis Center for Rural Health Performance INDEX, the most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. The determining factors for the top 20 rural and community hospitals are based on eight indices: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and finance.

Over 800 hospitals in the United States are included in the rural and community hospitals category and the top 20 represent the top 2.5% of hospitals in the country. Mercer Health’s Mercer County Community Hospital is the only hospital in Ohio on the list. 

Although previously made aware of the award, the official recognition came at the National Rural Health Association’s awards ceremony on May 9. Mercer Health has been identified as a Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital six times since the inception of the performance index in 2016, including the inception year of 2016 and again in 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024. 

Lisa Klenke, CEO states:

“Being named a Top 20 Hospital is a tremendous honor, but it comes with a responsibility to continue striving for excellence in everything we do. Thank you to our team for your exceptional work, your passion for serving others, and your commitment to making Mercer Health a beacon of hope and healing in our community.”