Wamego Health Center Named National Outstanding Rural Health Organization for 2026

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has selected Wamego Health Center as the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Rural Health Organization award. This prestigious national honor recognizes organizations that have made significant strides in advancing rural healthcare and improving the lives of rural Americans.

The award highlights the hospital's long-standing commitment to Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties, as well as its successful evolution from its founding in 1916 into a modern hub for clinical excellence.

A key factor in the center's success is the unique 25-year partnership between the City of Wamego and Ascension Via Christi, a leading Kansas health system. This model combines local community governance with Ascension Via Christi's extensive resources, technology and clinical expertise. The collaboration has enabled Wamego Health Center to remain financially stable and grow its
services during a period when many rural facilities across the nation face significant challenges.

"This award belongs to our dedicated physicians, providers and associates, many of whom are neighbors to the patients they serve," said Brian Howells, Administrator of Wamego Health Center. "Receiving this national recognition is a credit to the strength of our partnership with the city and our commitment to ensuring high quality care remains accessible for the residents of Wamego and surrounding communities."

In recent years, the center has significantly expanded its footprint, focusing on outpatient services to meet the shifting needs of the population. While remaining a Critical Access Hospital with a robust emergency department and inpatient care, the center now provides advanced wound care, infusion services, pain management, behavioral health and a swing bed program, alongside a thriving family practice clinic.

Wamego Health Center will be formally honored with other 2026 Rural Health Award recipients during NRHA's 49th Annual Rural Health Conference in San Diego on May 21.

"We're extremely proud of this year's winners," says NRHA CEO Alan Morgan. "They have each made tremendous strides to advance rural health care, and we're confident they will continue to help improve the lives of rural Americans."