Archives for November 2023

Ortonville Area Health Services (OAHS), a committed healthcare provider serving western Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a prestigious four-star rating by the National Rural Rating System (NRRS), a program recognizing excellence in rural healthcare.

This esteemed designation is a testament to OAHS’ dedication to delivering high-quality care and exceptional patient experiences. The NRRS evaluates health systems based on rigorous standards, including patient satisfaction, quality of care, and overall performance.

Dr. Allan Ross, CEO of OAHS, notes, “Our teams work diligently to provide the best care for the communities we serve, and I am so happy that they are being recognized for the exceptional care they provide for our patients and residents.”

The four-star rating reflects OAHS’ ongoing commitment to meeting the unique healthcare needs of rural communities throughout the region. This recognition highlights their success in providing outstanding medical services despite the challenges often faced by rural healthcare facilities.

Brian Lee, Chairman of National Rural Rating System, reflects, “This award is a testament to their unwavering commitment, dedication, expertise, and compassionate care provided to the community every day. In a rural setting, where healthcare challenges are unique and often complex, achieving this level of excellence signifies not just clinical capabilities, but also a deep connection to the community. This recognition reaffirms rural healthcare to be a beacon of health, hope, and healing.”

OAHS extends its heartfelt thanks to its dedicated team of healthcare professionals, whose tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to patient care have made this achievement possible.

About OAHS:
Ortonville Area Health Services (OAHS) is a city-owned, rural health care system located on the Minnesota side of the Minnesota/South Dakota border. OAHS consists of a 25-bed critical access hospital licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health, a 51-bed nursing home, a home health agency, three provider-based physician clinics, and a senior living facility with catered living and assisted living apartments. The mission of OAHS is to provide personalized, high-quality, and compassionate care through caring professionals in a healing environment. For more information, visit oahs.us.

About the 5-Star Rating System:
The 5-Star Rating System ranks rural and critical access hospitals – with five stars being the top ranking and one star being the lowest. The Star Ratings are like the CMS Stars, which allow hospitals/clinics to promote their success and are used as high-quality recognitions. Most small and rural hospitals (60%) do not qualify for CMS Ranking because of a low number of qualifying inpatients, but are held to the same high patient satisfaction criteria. This new program recognizes the hard work and dedication rural and critical access hospitals provide nationwide. The rankings include overnight hospital stays (HCAHPS) and are based on data collected by certified CMS patient satisfaction vendors. For more information, visit FiveStarRatings.org.