Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Medical Center staff smile Tuesday after learning it was named to the nation’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals for the 12th time in 15 years. Pictured front row, from left, Jane Carlson, Jody Brey, Hannah Heuer, Audrey Guth, Sara Kanuch, Sarah Schneider. Back row, Nicky Davis, Dr. Andrew Highum, Dr. Stephen Gilles, Mitch Bockenstedt, Sue Walden, Chris Binder, Pam Andrews, Madelyn Ibberson.

NEW ULM — New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC) was recently named among the 2025 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

The annual Top 100 award program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX.

Part of Allina Health, NUMC joins 10 other rural Minnesota hospitals in achieving this honor. It is the 12th year Chartis, a leading healthcare advisory firm, recognized NUMC with this distinction. Only three other hospitals nationwide have achieved this status.

New Ulm Medical Center also was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.

“We are extremely proud of receiving this recognition, and especially for being a 12-time recipient and having an overall ranking in the 99th percentile. Each of our dedicated care team members has a hand in this honor as they all play an important role in providing consistently exceptional care,” said NUMC President Toby Freier.

Hospital staff shared their thoughts on why NUMC received the Top 100 award so often.

“We work as if the team is our family,” said Jane Carlson.

“We all really care about patients and want to make things better,” said Jody Brey.

“We work well as a team,” said Hannah Heuer.

“We have great patient care,” said Audrey Guth.

“The staff,” said Nicky Davis.

“We have a really good staff and patient care,” said Mitch Bockenstedt.

“We always put our patients first,” said Christine Binder.

“Great patient care,” said Pam Andrews.

“We take care of each other like family, so we can take care of our community family,” said Madelyn Ibberson.

Other Minnesota hospitals named in the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals were Avera Granite Falls Health Center, CentraCare – Redwood Hospital, Redwood Falls, Kittson Healthcare, Hallock; Lake View Hospital, Two Harbors; Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James and Waseca, Meeker County Memorial Hospital, Litchfield; Olivia Hospital & Clinic, Olivia; Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic Avera, Pipestone; and Riverwood Healthcare Center, Aitkin.

Rankings are based on key measures including inpatient and outpatient market share, patient safety indicators, re-admissions, mortality, patient experience and financial performance.

Chartis Center for Rural Health Executive Director Michael Topchik said the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award program elevates the very best performers and helps create a roadmap for those seeking to improve financial and operational performance while continuing to care for the communities they serve.