HILLSBORO, N.D. — Several hospitals in northeast North Dakota and one in northwest Minnesota received spots on the National Rural Health Association’s top critical access hospital lists for 2025.
The three categories were “2025 Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” overall winners, “Best Practice in Quality” recipients and “Best Practice in Patient Satisfaction” recipients. A press release by Sanford Health said the hospitals are chosen based on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, which has eight indices of performance – inpatient market share, outpatient market share, patient perspective, cost, charge, finance, quality and outcomes. The top 20 critical access hospitals were chosen from the Chartis Center for Rural Health’s 2025 top 100 critical access hospital list, the release said.
Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center was one of the recipients for Best Practice in Quality, alongside Pembina County Memorial Hospital in Cavalier and Towner County Medical Center in Cando. Jac McTaggart, Sanford Hillsboro’s CEO, said the facility takes pride in being a national rural health care leader.
“This honor recognizes the dedication of our talented staff members to provide world-class health care to our patients and community,” McTaggart said. “It is our mission to provide the highest of care to our communities right here in their own backyards.”
Regional recipients of Best Practice in Patient Satisfaction included Towner County Medical Center as well as Kittson Healthcare in Hallock, Minnesota. The overall 2025 Top 20 Critical Access Hospital list featured Towner County Medical Center and CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington in Carrington, North Dakota.
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