News

Summit Pacific Medical Center has been recognized with several top national awards for its outstanding work in rural healthcare. These honors highlight the hospital’s dedication to improving health and wellness in the community.

The National Rural Health Association awarded Summit Pacific:

‣ Outstanding Rural Health Program for its Food as Medicine Program (Food Rx): an educational program that guides patients and gives them access to healthy food to manage chronic conditions.
‣ Rural Health Practitioner of the Year to Dr. Amanda Achterman, DO, MPH, for her dedication to providing excellent healthcare to rural communities.

The American Hospital Association also named Summit Pacific a 2024 Rural Hospital Leadership Award National Finalist for its achievements in:

‣ Low Barrier Behavioral and Primary Care Clinic: Summit Pacific provides walk-in access, medication-assisted treatment, and integrated behavioral health services to underserved patients, ensuring that individuals facing barriers such as transportation, financial constraints, or stigma receive the care they need.
‣ Rural Family Medicine Residency: Summit Pacific’s Rural Family Residency Program adds more than 3,000 patient visits per year, increasing access to primary care in the community while training the next generation of rural physicians who are equipped to address the unique challenges of rural medicine.
‣ Food as Medicine Program (Food Rx), which helps patients improve their health through better nutrition.

These awards highlight Summit Pacific’s commitment to innovation, compassion, and excellence in rural healthcare. By expanding access to critical services, training the next generation of providers, and addressing health challenges with creative solutions like Food Rx, Summit Pacific is transforming lives and setting a new standard for rural medicine.