Sheridan Memorial Hospital has been recognized on two national quality lists published by Becker’s Hospital Review, highlighting the hospital’s performance in infection prevention and patient outcomes.
In the fall of 2025, the hospital was included among facilities nationwide reporting the lowest rates of hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections. Data was collected from October 2023 to September 2024 and was last updated Aug. 6, according to Becker’s. C. diff is a serious bacterial infection that can occur in healthcare settings, often associated with antibiotic use. Infection rates are closely tracked across the country as a measure of hospital safety and environmental controls.
Hospitals recognized on Becker’s list demonstrated exceptionally low infection rates based on federal quality data. Preventing C. diff requires coordinated efforts across departments, including environmental cleaning, antibiotic stewardship, early detection and strict adherence to infection prevention protocols.
Sheridan Memorial Hospital was also named among hospitals with the lowest readmission rates by state, according to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Readmission rates measure how frequently patients return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge and are considered a key indicator of care coordination and discharge planning effectiveness.
Lower readmission rates often reflect strong communication with patients, clear discharge instructions, follow-up coordination with primary and specialty providers, and access to outpatient services such as rehabilitation and home health care.
While many larger metropolitan hospitals appear on national quality lists, inclusion for a rural, independent hospital underscores the growing role smaller health systems play in delivering high-performing care. Sheridan Memorial Hospital provides services ranging from primary care and emergency medicine to surgery, specialty care and rehabilitation.
Hospital leaders noted that both recognitions reflect systemwide efforts rather than the work of a single department. Infection prevention staff, nursing teams, physicians, environmental services, pharmacists, case managers and outpatient providers all contribute to performance metrics tied to patient safety and outcomes.
National quality reporting continues to play an increasingly visible role in how hospitals measure and communicate performance. For patients, infection rates and readmission data offer objective benchmarks when evaluating care.
Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s inclusion on both lists places it among a select group of facilities nationally that are demonstrating measurable success in two areas closely tied to patient safety: preventing hospital-acquired infections and reducing unnecessary returns to the hospital after discharge.
The dual recognition highlights an ongoing focus on quality improvement initiatives designed to strengthen care across the continuum — from inpatient treatment to recovery at home.