Pender Community Hospital Recognized with 2025 Performance Leadership Award by The Chartis Center for Rural Health
Pender, Neb. (December 22, 2025) –Pender Community Hospital today announced it has earned a 2025 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards program recognizes top quartile performance (i.e., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes, and/or Patient Perspective.
“This recognition belongs to our team. Every day, our staff show up with skill, compassion, and a deep commitment to the families we serve, and that is what made this achievement possible,” said Laura Gamble, CEO of Pender Community Hospital. “I’m incredibly proud of the work they do and grateful for the way they care for our community. This award reflects who they are and the heart they bring to Pender Community Hospital.”
The Performance Leadership Awards program is based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, a comprehensive and objective framework for assessing how rural hospitals are performing. INDEX benchmarks are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure performance across multiple areas impacting hospital operations and finance.
“The areas of quality, outcomes, and patient perspective are cornerstones of healthcare delivery across rural America, and this year’s Performance Leadership Award recipients are establishing a standard of excellence for their rural peers to follow,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director, Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We are delighted to shine a spotlight on such strong performance and honor the achievement of these hospitals on National Rural Health Day.”
For more details about the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, contact Billy Balfour at wbalfour@chartis.com.
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About Pender Community Hospital District
Pender Community Hospital delivers high-quality, compassionate care to communities in northeast Nebraska. With advanced medical technology, experienced providers, and well-coordinated services, PCH ensures patients receive exceptional care close to home. In addition to the hospital, PCH operates medical
clinics, retail pharmacies, the Little Sprouts Child Development Center, and Prairie Breeze Assisted Living—serving patients and families at every stage of life.
