Cass Health Named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital

The Iowa hospital has achieved this national recognition for 10 consecutive years.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Cass Health, a hospital located in Atlantic, Iowa, has been recognized as a 2026 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This marks the tenth year in a row that Cass Health has achieved this impressive national recognition, which celebrates outstanding performance among the nation's rural hospitals.

Why it matters

The Top 100 Critical Access Hospital award is a prestigious honor that highlights Cass Health's commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative healthcare to the rural communities it serves. Maintaining this level of excellence for a decade is a remarkable accomplishment.

The details

Cass Health CEO Brett Altman stated that the hospital is 'deeply grateful to the communities we serve for trusting us with their personal health care needs' and that they 'remain committed to challenging the status quo and delivering the meaningful improvements our patients deserve.' The Chartis Center for Rural Health, which administers the Top 100 program, noted that this year's winners have 'emerged as true leaders - committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication and innovation'.

  • Cass Health has achieved the Top 100 Critical Access Hospital recognition for 10 consecutive years, from 2017 to 2026.

The players

Cass Health

A hospital located in Atlantic, Iowa that has been recognized as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital for 10 consecutive years.

Brett Altman

The CEO of Cass Health.

The Chartis Center for Rural Health

The organization that administers the Top 100 Critical Access Hospital program and recognizes outstanding rural hospitals.

Michael Topchik

The Executive Director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

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What they’re saying

“For the past 10 consecutive years, this honor has served as a powerful vote of confidence from our neighbors. We are deeply grateful to the communities we serve for trusting us with their personal health care needs. While we strive for perfection every day, we are never complacent; we remain committed to challenging the status quo and delivering the meaningful improvements our patients deserve.”

— Brett Altman, CEO, Cass Health (westerniowatoday.com)

“The delivery of care within rural communities is perhaps more complex today than at any point in recent memory. This year's Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals have emerged as true leaders – committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication and innovation.”

— Michael Topchik, Executive Director, The Chartis Center for Rural Health (westerniowatoday.com)

What’s next

Cass Health will continue to provide high-quality, innovative healthcare to the rural communities it serves, with a focus on challenging the status quo and delivering meaningful improvements for its patients.

The takeaway

Cass Health's decade-long recognition as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital demonstrates its unwavering commitment to excellence in rural healthcare. The hospital's resilience, dedication, and innovative approach have earned the trust and appreciation of the communities it serves, setting a standard for other rural healthcare providers to aspire to.