Memorial Hospital earns five-star rating, also named to National Rural Honor Roll

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Memorial Hospital in Carthage has been awarded a 5-star rating by the National Rural Rating System (NRRS), a program recognizing dedication and excellence in rural healthcare, as well as being named to the National Rural Honor Roll.

The NRRS evaluates hospitals based on rigorous standards, including patient satisfaction, quality of care and overall hospital performance. The National Rural Honor Roll, announced each November, honors rural hospitals meeting the highest standards for patient experience based on cumulative ratings submitted by Oct. 31, 2024.

“These awards really shine a spotlight on the heart and hard work that our rural hospitals bring to their communities,” Brock Slabach, COO of the National Rural Health Association, said in a press release. “Rural healthcare comes with unique challenges, and reaching this level of excellence shows not only the clinical expertise but also the deep commitment these hospitals have to the people they serve. This recognition celebrates rural healthcare as a source of strength, compassion, and healing — right where it’s needed most.”

Sixty percent of small and rural hospitals do not qualify because of a low number of qualifying inpatients for the rankings but are held to the same high patient satisfaction criteria. The rankings include overnight hospital stays and are based on data collected by certified CMS patient satisfaction vendors.