Avera St. Anthony's Named a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital

The Nebraska hospital was recognized for its overall performance and resilience after a natural gas explosion in 2024.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal structures of a hospital building, conceptually illustrating the high performance and resilience of a critical access hospital.An X-ray view of the resilient infrastructure powering one of the nation's top critical access hospitals, serving a rural Nebraska community.O'Neill Today

Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill, Nebraska was recently named one of the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAHs) in the United States for overall performance. The hospital was recognized by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and the Chartis Center for Rural Health for its success across several key metrics, including inpatient and outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient experience, cost, charges, and financial health.

Why it matters

This prestigious national recognition highlights Avera St. Anthony's commitment to providing high-quality, cost-effective care to the rural community of O'Neill, Nebraska, even in the face of significant challenges like a natural gas explosion that caused damage to the hospital in 2024. The award demonstrates the resilience and dedication of the hospital's staff.

The details

Avera St. Anthony's Hospital was selected as one of the top 20 CAHs out of over 1,300 such facilities nationwide. The rankings were determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health based on a composite score across eight key performance indicators. An awards ceremony will be held in September 2026 at the NRHA's Critical Access Hospital Conference in Kansas City.

  • Avera St. Anthony's Hospital was named a top 20 CAH in April 2026.
  • The hospital experienced a natural gas explosion adjacent to its property in October 2024.
  • The awards ceremony will be held in September 2026 at the NRHA's Critical Access Hospital Conference.

The players

Avera St. Anthony's Hospital

A critical access hospital located in O'Neill, Nebraska that was recognized as one of the top 20 such hospitals in the United States for overall performance.

Chartis Center for Rural Health

A comprehensive health care advisory firm that determined the rankings of the top 100 critical access hospitals, including Avera St. Anthony's.

National Rural Health Association (NRHA)

A nonprofit organization that works to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and will be hosting the awards ceremony for the top 20 critical access hospitals.

John Kozyra

The President and CEO of Avera St. Anthony's Hospital.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is an achievement of which Avera St. Anthony's Hospital is proud – especially considering the challenging experience we have had recovering from damage related to a natural gas explosion that occurred adjacent to our property in October 2024.”

— John Kozyra, President and CEO of Avera St. Anthony's Hospital

What’s next

The awards ceremony for the top 20 critical access hospitals, including Avera St. Anthony's, will be held in September 2026 during the NRHA's Critical Access Hospital Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

The takeaway

Avera St. Anthony's Hospital's recognition as one of the top 20 critical access hospitals in the country is a testament to the resilience and dedication of its staff, who have continued to provide high-quality, cost-effective care to the rural community of O'Neill, Nebraska even in the face of significant challenges like a natural gas explosion in 2024.