Member News
Two WHA Members Named on Becker’s List of 100 Critical Access Hospitals to Know
Congratulations to WHA members, Rio Grande Hospital and Southwest Health System, for being named on Becker’s list of 100 critical access hospitals to know!
Rio Grande Hospital (Del Norte, Colo.). Rio Grande Hospital is a critical access hospital with a broad range of services, including emergency care, surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, dermatology, pulmonary rehabilitation, wound care and a swing-bed program, ensuring residents can access comprehensive care without traveling far from home. The hospital was named a “Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” by the National Rural Health Association in 2026. A dedicated team of specialists delivers care across cardiology, ophthalmology, OB/GYN, surgery and ENT, while the hospital’s advanced wound care center pairs advanced wound management with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in coordination with patients’ primary physicians. Rio Grande Hospital’s wellness center, as well as its cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, reflect a commitment to preventive care and long-term health management beyond acute services. The hospital also offers telehealth services to extend access to specialty care for patients across the geographically expansive rural region.
Southwest Memorial Hospital (Cortez, Colo.). 20-bed Southwest Memorial Hospital is part of Cortez-based Southwest Health System, the largest healthcare provider in the area. The system operates more than 50 service lines across Southwest Memorial Hospital and six affiliated clinics in the region. The system’s family birthing center earned the CMS Birthing-Friendly designation, which is the highest national recognition for excellence in safe, evidence-based maternity care, and the hospital has earned Chartis “Performance Leadership Awards” for outstanding outcomes in both 2024 and 2025. In 2025, the nonprofit Colorado Rural Health Center honored the system on National Rural Health Day for community impact, leadership and commitment to strengthening rural healthcare access. Through a new partnership with Montrose (Colo.) Regional Health, the system established on-site cardiology services, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for advanced cardiac care. Southwest Health System is also participating in two perinatal improvement initiatives with the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative, exceeding the requirements of Colorado Senate Bill 24-175 and CMS requirements for perinatal care improvement. The system is implementing an EHR across its clinics to unify care coordination and has launched the “Trailhead Leadership Series,” an internal program investing in emerging leaders throughout the organization.
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