Local Avera Hospitals Named To Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital and Critical Access Hospitals In 2025

PIERRE, (KCCR) — Avera St. Mary’s Hospital and three other properties have been listed among the Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital and Critical Access Hospitals in the County this year. The acknowledgment comes from the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Avera St. Mary’s along with Avera St. Luke’s in Aberdeen and Avera Scared Heart in Yankton made the Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital list. Making the Top 100 Critical Access Hospital list was Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller. St. Mary’s Regional President and C-E-O Shantel Krebs says providing high quality care close to home is grounded in Avera’s mission, dating back to the sisters who founded the hospital back in 1899. The Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX is in it’s 15th year of analyzing rural medical facilities. The index measures hospitals in eight categories including quality, cost, and patient engagement. Krebs says Avera’s staff is proud to provide leading-edge car and research to families across central South Dakota.