UP Health Portage named Top 100 hospital

The Chartis Group has recognized UP Health System – Portage as a Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital. The company designs an algorithm that weights publicly available information, such as affordability and quality of care metrics, to determine the list. UPHS – Portage CEO Ed Freysinger says it is the first time that the hospital has made the list, but it has scored well in other similar exercises, like that compiled by Medicare on patient satisfaction and Leapfrog.

Freysinger says there are some perks to the ranking, besides a sense of pride.

Freysinger says the distinction is validation of what he already knew. He says it continues to be an honor to work everyday beside the hospital’s dedicated and caring staff.

The full release is below.

UP Health System – Portage is pleased to announce it has been recognized as a 2021 Top 100 Rural & Community 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 Rural & Community Hospitals award is based upon the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX®. UP Health System – Portage is the only hospital in the Western Upper Peninsula to receive this designation.

“We are very pleased to be honored as one of the top rural hospitals in the country,” said Ed Freysinger, CEO of UPHS — Portage. “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 rural 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 utilizing 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 Portage 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 Portage exceeding state and national benchmarks. This designation assures our communities in Houghton County that they are receiving high-quality care and further enhances our mission of Making Communities Healthier®.”

For more information on UP Health System Portage, visit www.PortageHealth.org.
Top 100 Rural Hospital Resources:

The list of this year’s Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals, as well as the 2021 INDEX methodology, can be found at www.ivantageindex.com/top-performing-hospitals.