COBLESKILL — Cobleskill Regional Hospital has been recognized as a 2026 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the U.S. by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
It is the only critical access hospital in New York State to earn the distinction this year. Critical Access Hospitals are designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to safeguard the ability of patients living in remote rural areas to access necessary medical care close to home.
“The recognition showcases the nurturing and hard-working nature of each of the practitioners, caregivers, and team members at Cobleskill Regional Hospital,” said Susan Oakes Ferrucci, DNP, MSN, RN, CNS, President of Cobleskill Regional Hospital and Chief Hospital Executive of Bassett’s Critical Access Hospitals Division. “We thank The Chartis Center for this recognition and remain committed to providing the highest quality services and treatments to our neighbors.”
This awards program celebrates outstanding performance annually among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®. Now in its 16th year, the INDEX is described by Chartis as the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance.
Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is utilized nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations, quality, patient perspective and finance.
“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,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to recognize this year’s winners and celebrate their Top 100 status.”
Cobleskill Regional Hospital is Schoharie County’s only provider of acute inpatient medical care, emergency care, short-stay inpatient rehabilitation, and many other diagnostic and therapeutic services. More than 20 outpatient specialty services are also offered at the hospital, including cancer care, general surgery, orthopedics, and heart care. The hospital’s emergency department provides rapid assessment and expert treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We are very fortunate at Cobleskill Regional Hospital to have built a caregiving community where neighbors are helping neighbors. From primary care to emergency care, we are here, allowing our patients to get the care they need without having to travel far,” said Erin Vollmer, MS, RN, NC-BC, NE-BC, CHOP-B, Director of Nursing and Operations at Cobleskill Regional Hospital. “To be recognized as one of the best critical access hospitals in America is an honor that would not be possible without the dedication of each caregiver and employee.”
Cobleskill Regional Hospital has been named among the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals before. It most recently earned this distinction in 2024.
