Spencer Hospital named a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital For 11 Consecutive Years

posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 in General

Spencer Hospital has once again been named a 2026 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, marking an exceptional milestone of 11 consecutive years of national recognition and making us the only hospital in Iowa to achieve this distinction every year since the award’s inception. Earning this honor year after year places Spencer Hospital among an elite group of rural hospitals across the country recognized for sustained excellence in performance, quality, and patient care. 

The Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital Awards program honors outstanding rural hospitals annually based on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, a comprehensive assessment of hospital performance across key operational and quality measures. 

“Being recognized once is an honor, but earning this distinction 11 years in a row speaks volumes about our people,” said Brenda Tiefenthaler, President of Spencer Hospital. “Our team shows up every day with skill, heart, and a shared commitment to doing what’s best for our patients. This recognition reflects their dedication to providing high-quality care and keeping exceptional healthcare close to home for our region.” 

Amanda Bare, Chair of the Spencer Hospital Board of Trustees, emphasized the significance of the hospital’s sustained success. “Consistency at this level doesn’t happen by accident,” Bare said. “This achievement is a direct reflection of the teamwork and commitment of Spencer Hospital’s staff, physicians, and leaders. Their focus on delivering excellent, cost-effective care year after year is what makes milestones like this possible.” 

The Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective measure of rural hospital performance. Using publicly available data, the INDEX is relied upon nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to evaluate and track performance across areas including quality, outcomes, patient experience, operations, and financial stability. 

“The delivery of care within rural communities is perhaps more complex today than at any point in recent memory. This year’s Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals have emerged as true leaders – committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication and innovation,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to recognize this year’s winners and celebrate their Top 100 status.” 

Spencer Hospital is a regional health care provider serving patients throughout northwest Iowa and southern Minnesota. Dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, Spencer Hospital offers a full range of services through its full-service hospital and an expanding network of specialty care. These services include a comprehensive cancer treatment center, an inpatient behavioral health center, a multi-specialty surgical center, four primary care clinics, and two satellite dialysis centers located in Spencer and Spirit Lake. Through this integrated approach to care, Spencer Hospital is committed to meeting the health care needs of the region and improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves. For more information, visit SpencerHospital.org.