In February 2026, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital (RWRH) was named to the Chartis Top 100 Rural Hospitals List for the first time. Building on that distinction, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital has now also been recognized as a Top 20 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health and the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). This national distinction places RWRH among the highest-performing rural hospitals in the nation.
The NRHA names the Top 20 Rural & Community Hospitals annually based on an evaluation conducted by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. The selected hospitals are identified through the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEXTM, the most comprehensive and objective assessment of approximately 800 U.S. rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospital performance based upon market, value-based and financial measures.
“We are incredibly proud to see Riverside Walter Reed Hospital recognized among the Top 20 rural hospitals in the nation,” said Mike Dacey, M.D., President & CEO of Riverside Health. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our care teams and their unwavering focus on delivering safe, high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve across the Middle Peninsula and beyond.”
In 2026, RWRH is the only hospital on the East Coast to be recognized in the Top 20, making it the only hospital in Virginia to receive this distinction this year. Notably, Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital was the only other hospital in Virginia named to the Chartis Top 100 Rural Hospitals in 2026, further highlighting Riverside Health’s strong performance in rural care.
The RWRH team plays a vital role in supporting the region’s primary and specialty care needs. Offering a full continuum of services ranging from inpatient and outpatient care, diagnostics, rehabilitation and wellness, medical and surgical patients, emergency and critical care patients, and those seeking diagnostic testing. Through the team’s ongoing dedication, the communities it serves can count on exceptional, patient-focused care delivered with compassion.
“Being named to the Top 100 and now recognized in the Top 20 in the same year is an extraordinary honor,” said Shelly Johnson, President of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital. “This recognition speaks to the commitment, skill and heart of our team, who work every day to provide exceptional care and improve the health of our community.”
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital will be recognized May 19, 2026 during NRHA’s Rural Hospital Innovation Summit in San Diego, C.A. For more information visit www.riversideonline.com/RWRH.