As part of National Rural Health Day, Van Diest Medical Center (VDMC) today announced it has earned a 2024 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality, Outcomes and Patient Perspective. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards recognize top quartile performance (i.e., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes and/or Patient Perspective.

“I am very proud to be a part of such a caring and skilled team; this award is a testament to their hard work, perseverance and exceptional talent. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Administration, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all employees for their remarkable achievements,” said Lisa Ridge, VDMC Chief Executive Officer.

The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, a comprehensive and objective framework for assessing how rural hospitals are performing. INDEX benchmarks are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure performance across multiple areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

“The Performance Leadership Awards capture the commitment, diligence, and innovation with which America’s rural hospitals approach the delivery of care within their communities,” said Troy Brown, Network Consultant, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “It’s a tremendous honor to be able to recognize the efforts of this year’s award winners and celebrate their achievement as part of National Rural Health Day.”

Hamilton County Public Hospital d/b/a Van Diest Medical Center (VDMC) has been the premier healthcare facility in Hamilton County, Iowa, for nearly 100 years. VDMC is committed to providing the highest quality care to patients and are dedicated to improving the quality of life for families and communities throughout central Iowa. Van Diest Medical Center operates a family health clinic on the main medical campus, as well as satellite clinics in Fort Dodge, Jewell and Stratford.