ISHPEMING — UP Health System-Bell announced it has been recognized as a 2021 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the United States by The Chartis Group.

Regarded as one of the industry’s most significant designations of performance excellence, the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award is based upon the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX®. UPHS-Bell is the only hospital in the Upper Peninsula to receive this designation.

“We are very pleased to be honored as one of the top critical access hospitals in the country,” said Mitch Leckelt, CEO of UPHS-Bell, in a statement. “I would like to thank all of our employees, volunteers, and medical staff who have made this possible through their hard work and dedication. It’s because of their tireless commitment to our patients and our community that we were able to be recognized as a premier critical access hospital.”

Over the course of the last 11 years, the INDEX has grown to become the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Based entirely on public data and using 36 independent indicators, the INDEX assesses rural hospitals across eight pillars of performance, including market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and financial efficiency.

The INDEX framework is widely used across the nation by independent rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints and state offices of rural health, which provide access to INDEX analytics through grant-funded initiatives.

“Our team of healthcare experts at Bell do an exceptional job delivering quality, safe, and compassionate care,” said Gar Atchison, market president for UP Health System. “Publicly-reported quality and patient satisfaction data continue to showcase Bell exceeding state and national benchmarks. This designation assures our communities in western Marquette County that they are receiving high-quality care and further enhances our mission of Making Communities Healthier®.”

For more information on UP Health System Bell, visit www.BellHospital.org.