Health Compass Newsletter

CMH was selected as the National Rural Health Association's (NRHA) Outstanding Rural Health Organization for 2024.

This national award recognizes an organization that has improved access to health services and information for rural people through broad and innovative approaches. Factors considered include outreach, preventive health and education, quality and efficiency of care, and strong community support and involvement.

This is the NRHA's most competitive award and highest honor.

"There are so many things that set us apart as a rural health care organization. I want to emphasize that without our team of caregivers at CMH, we could not achieve this recognition," says Erik Thorsen, CEO. "As we think back on our growth and success over the past several years, these choices, along with our team, have led the way: increasing access to care following the Board of Trustees' lead in 2010; bringing in new services, such as cancer care, interventional radiology and robotic surgery; becoming Planetree gold-certified and changing our philosophy of care; and positioning ourselves as a strategic partner of OHSU."

CMH is already working on its next chapter and a new era of health care in the Columbia coast region with the BuildCMH Expansion Project, a $250 million-plus investment to expand its Astoria campus, growing hospital service lines, attracting new health care providers and providing the latest technology to address community health needs.

"This award demonstrates that we are on the right path to becoming a national leader in rural health care, providing the highest-quality care to our community," Thorsen says.

Categories: BuildCMH