SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Medical Center (SEMC) was recently named on of the top 20 critical access hospitals in the U.S. for patient satisfaction.

Selected among 1,367 critical access hospitals by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), the recognition is regarded as one of the highest distinctions a rural hospital can receive for how it serves patients and area community.

A Critical Access Hospital is a designation given by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to eligible rural hospitals, designed to reduce financial vulnerability and improve access to care. They must be situated in a rural area and provide 24/7 emergency care.

The award was chosen based on performance, not applied for, making the achievement more meaningful, said SEMC Administrator Todd Consbruck.

“This recognition speaks directly to who we are and how we care for people. We have an amazing staff that cares for people above and beyond. I think this award shows that,” he said. “Every day, our team shows up committed to treating patients with compassion, respect and excellence. To be recognized at this level–among the top hospitals in the nation–is a direct reflection of our staff and the way they serve our patients and community. ”

The commitment to patient-centered care is shared across the entire medical staff, Consbruck said.

“We are very proud of the services and medical expertise we provide our community and area. This award is certainly a tribute to everybody that deals with the public,” said Sleepy Eye Medical Staff Director Dr. John Pelzel. “We strive every day to do what is best for our patients and their loved ones. This recognition is an honor for our entire staff. It reflects our patients’ satisfaction with the quality care we are able to deliver.”

The designation, announced by the National Rural Health Association (MRHA) and based on data from the Chartis Center for Rural Health, reflects exceptional performance across 10 patient experience domains. Chartis is an advisory firm designed to advance rural healthcare through data-driven insights, research, and analytics.

Sleepy Eye Medical Center was named to the Top 100 hospitals earlier this year by the NRHA before named to the Top 20 hospitals for best practice in patient satisfaction.

Top 20 hospitals are identified by a rigorous evaluation of performance across key areas, including quality, outcomes, patient experience, financial strength and continued growth.

Sleepy Eye’s recognition highlights its outstanding patient perspective scores–an indicator of how patients experience care, communication and overall service.

An awards ceremony honoring the nation’s top-performing critical access hospitals will be held at the NRHA Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, Mo.

Sleepy Eye Medical Center is an independent hospital owned and operated by the City of Sleepy Eye. The medical center provides primary and specialty clinic care, 24/7 emergency services, inpatient hospital care.

For more information, visit semedicalcenter.org.