Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Receives Two National Awards for Excellence in Patient Experience and Rural Health Performance

Humboldt County, Iowa — Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) is proud to announce that it has been recognized with two major national awards for 2025—highlighting the hospital’s commitment to exceptional care, strong outcomes, and an outstanding patient experience close to home.

HCMH Named a 2025 Excellence in Patient Experience Award Winner by NRC Health

HCMH has been selected as one of only three Critical Access Hospitals in the entire country to receive the Excellence in Patient Experience Award from NRC Health, a national leader in patient experience and healthcare analytics.

The award recognizes hospitals with top performance in Real-time Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and HCAHPS survey responses to the “Would Recommend Facility” question from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Out of 190 eligible facilities, HCMH earned its place among the nation’s best.

“This year’s Excellence in Patient Experience Award winners have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to listening to patients and their families, and improving care in ways that reflect NRC Health’s mission of Human Understanding,” said Helen Hrdy, Chief Operating Officer at NRC Health. “This achievement highlights the dedication of their entire teams, and we’re proud to celebrate their successes.”

For more than 40 years, NRC Health has helped healthcare organizations better understand patients, families, and communities through its Human Understanding® model, setting the national standard for patient-centered care.

HCMH Also Earns 2025 Performance Leadership Award from The Chartis Center for Rural Health

Adding to this achievement, HCMH has been honored with the 2025 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality / Outcomes / Patient Perspective from The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

The award recognizes rural hospitals performing in the top quartile nationwide (75th percentile or above) based on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®—a comprehensive, objective framework widely used across the country to evaluate rural hospital performance.

“This recognition is a reflection of our entire team’s dedication to providing exceptional care close to home,” said Michelle Sleiter, CEO of HCMH. “Every staff member at HCMH—from those at the bedside to those behind the scenes—plays a vital role in making sure our patients receive the highest level of care possible. We’re proud to serve Humboldt County and surrounding communities with the quality and compassion our patients deserve.”

The INDEX is relied upon by healthcare systems, state rural health offices, and hospital associations to measure performance in key areas that impact patient outcomes, access to care, and long-term sustainability.

Commitment to the Community

These two national recognitions reflect the hospital’s continued commitment to delivering:

High-quality clinical care
A compassionate, personalized patient experience
Strong outcomes for patients and families
Excellence across the entire continuum of care

HCMH remains dedicated to strengthening access to healthcare in Humboldt County and investing in services that meet the evolving needs of the community.

About Humboldt County Memorial Hospital

Humboldt County Memorial Hospital is a 21-bed Critical Access Hospital providing comprehensive healthcare services to Humboldt County and the surrounding region. With a mission centered on quality, compassion, and community, HCMH offers advanced care close to home through innovative services, partnerships, and a highly skilled and dedicated team.