News

Unity Medical Center Named to 2026 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital List

February 24, 2026

Unity Medical Center, a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in Grafton, North Dakota, has been named one of the Top 100 CAHs in the U.S. for 2026, according to the Chartis Center for Rural Health. North Dakota has ten CAHs named to this year’s Top 100.

Top 100 hospitals are top performers, excelling in financial efficiency, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, and operating at a lower cost than their peers across the U.S.

Jody Ward, grant program director for the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, oversees the North Dakota CAH Quality Network and the North Dakota Rural Health Clinic Network located at the Center for Rural Health (CRH), part of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

“We are proud to see so many North Dakota CAHs represented this year,” said Ward. “Our hospitals have continually kept up with an influx of patients while maintaining the high-quality patient care we are known for across North Dakota. To see ten of our hospitals being recognized in the Top 100 means we are doing things correctly.”

Jacob Warren, director of CRH, emphasized the importance of rural health throughout the state. “Particularly for our state, rural hospitals are the heartbeat of our communities, and the high level of care they provide, along with being mindful of costs, will continue to improve the health of our citizens.”

Other North Dakota hospitals receiving Top 100 recognition include: CHI Mercy Health of Valley City; CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center; Langdon Prairie Health; Linton Regional Medical Center; McKenzie Health in Watford City; Pembina County Memorial Hospital in Cavalier; Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen; South Central Health in Wishek; and Towner County Medical Center in Cando.

The Chartis Group provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the healthcare industry. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, informatics and technology, and health analytics, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children’s hospitals, and healthcare service organizations achieve transformative results. The Chartis Center for Rural Health is a division of the Chartis Group.

About the Center for Rural Health

Established in 1980 at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, the Center for Rural Health is one of the nation’s most experienced rural health organizations. It has developed a full complement of programs to assist researchers, educators, policymakers, healthcare providers, and most important, rural residents to address changing rural environments by identifying and researching rural health issues, analyzing health policy, strengthening local capabilities, developing community-based alternatives, and advocating for rural concerns. For more information, visit RuralHealth.und.edu.

Unity Medical Center – Park River and Grafton Family Clinics recognized as a Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System

February 2, 2026

As an active participant in the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, Unity Medical Center is proud to have achieved special recognition as an Age-Friendly Health Systems — Committed to Care Excellence by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

This distinction reflects ongoing work to reliably implement the 4Ms Framework, a set of proven care elements designed to address what matters most to older patients:

What Matters – Listening to and honoring each individual’s goals, preferences, and values
Mentation – Supporting cognitive health, emotional well-being, and preventing delirium
Medications – Using age-appropriate medications and reducing harm from polypharmacy
Mobility – Promoting safe movement to maintain functional independence

By embedding the 4Ms into everyday practice, the care teams at Park River and Grafton Family Clinics are helping ensure that older adults receive respectful, personalized, and holistic care at every encounter.

“This recognition reflects the deep commitment our care teams have to truly listening to and caring for older adults in our community,” said Dr. Jennifer Shaw. “Age-friendly care is about more than clinical excellence—it’s about honoring what matters most to each patient, supporting their independence, and treating every person with dignity and respect. We are proud to serve our older adults and grateful for the trust they place in us every day.”

Unity Medical Center is proud to join the ranks of organizations globally achieving success toward excellence in care for older adults.

The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative continues to be an important part of our overarching vision to provide every older adult in our community with the best care possible. We strive to achieve recognition of excellent care from older adults and carers in our community, whom we serve.

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association of the US (CHA). For more information, visit www.ihi.org/agefriendly.

Unity Medical Center builds rural education into its walls — and its mission

Education is literally built into Unity Medical Center.

In 2019, CEO Alan O’Neil was supervising the 2019-2021 expansion of the Grafton, N.D., hospital when he noticed that part of the third floor “was designated to be just a flat roof,” O’Neil told the AHA. “I asked the architect, ‘Does that mean we could shell that in and build a really creative space?”

They could, and they did. What was once going to be empty space is now used for everything from staff meetings to community medical events, but its main purpose is serving as the Rural Medical Education Center, supporting Unity's commitment to health care education at all levels. Also, one wall was designated as a Veteran’s Wall and hosts pictures of nearly 300 area veterans.

One of those education levels (Scrubs Camp) is a partnership with local high schools that enables students to come in and get a first-hand look at careers in health care. “The first time we did this, I was really skeptical,” O’Neil said. “I thought there would be a lack of focus. I was completely wrong — the students were extremely focused.” Visiting students can see their community hospital in action and get some hands-on learning in many departments, including a session with the hospital’s da Vinci surgical robot. “The accolades the students and faculty give us are very positive,” O’Neil said. “I know we have created a pathway for many of them to pursue a career in health care.”

Unity is also a designated ROME (Rural Opportunities in Medical Education) site. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine is about 45 miles away, “and they send medical students out here, as these students have expressed an interest in potentially practicing in a rural environment,” O’Neil said. The hospital owns a house near the facility where ROME students can live during their five-month rotation and “can really get exposure to living in a rural community, and what a rural practice is like.” Unity also offers educational opportunities for advanced practice providers, nurses, dietitians, lab technicians, radiology professionals, and physical, occupational and speech therapists. Of course, Unity doesn’t keep all those students to themselves; most go on to work in other facilities, many of them rural. “They go elsewhere, but I’m very comfortable saying they’ve really enjoyed the training environment and the time they’ve spent here. We have an incredibly dedicated team that loves to teach and mentor.”

Unity Medical Center Earns 3-Year Acute Cardiac Ready Hospital Designation

August 18, 2025

Unity Medical Center (UMC) has received the full three-year Acute Cardiac Ready Hospital designation from the North Dakota Cardiac System of Care (part of the North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services). UMC is the third hospital in North Dakota to receive this designation along with CHI Mercy Hospital in Valley City and Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

This means that UMC is recognized as a STEMI referring center. A STEMI, or ST-elevation myocardial infarction, is a severe type of heart attack characterized by a complete blockage of a coronary artery, causing significant damage to the heart muscle. Rapid identification, treatment, and transfer of STEMI patients offer the greatest chance of recovery.

According to Lindsey Gellner, RN, Emergency Department Manager, “After a yearlong process of developing and refining treatment protocols and performing internal reviews, in addition to developing a STEMI performance improvement program, we have received the highest recognition of cardiac care. Our function at UMC is to provide excellent stabilizing care and work closely with EMS and regional partners to provide definitive transport and management of our patients. We have always strived to provide excellent care for our patients. This recognition demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide excellent care to not only our cardiac patients but all of our patients.”

O’Neil Receives Outstanding Rural Health Career Award

July 9, 2025

Alan O’Neil, CEO of Unity Medical Center, received the Outstanding Rural Health Career award at the 2025 Rural and Public Health Awards Banquet, which recognized outstanding North Dakota rural health and public health advocates for their accomplishments. The award is presented to a healthcare professional who has devoted his/her career to making significant contributions to improving healthcare in rural North Dakota. The awards banquet was held on June 18 in Bismarck.

O’Neil has been a part of Unity Medical Center since 2014. During that time, he has focused on the future; dedicating himself to shaping Unity Medical Center into a growing and thriving hospital. He has created a health system that provides many services that often require rural residents to travel long distances to access.

Under O’Neil’s leadership, Unity Medical Center has grown – adding an emergency department, a surgery center, 11 private patient rooms, and a conference center/rural medical education center. This physical expansion also increased the hospital’s workforce and led to the acquisition of a Da Vinci robot – the only one in North Dakota located at a Critical Access Hospital.

“Alan’s leadership has led to a positive organizational culture and work environment,” said Jenny Holand, chief nursing officer at Unity Medical Center. “He deeply cares for his employees and ensures that all departments have the equipment and support they need.”

Helmsley Charitable Trust grants $646,571 to help Unity Medical Center purchase state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment

February 18, 2025

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has granted $646,571 to Unity Medical Center (Unity) to purchase ultrasound equipment including four GE Venue, one GE Voluson, one Philips Epiq Elite, two Trophon units (high level disinfection for probes), and six storage cabinets for the clean probes as part of a $27.4 million ultrasound initiative in North Dakota.

The initiative includes more than $21.8 million to help 69 North Dakota hospitals and health centers purchase ultrasound imaging devices and nearly $5.7 million to boost sonography and point of care ultrasound (POCUS) training opportunities across the state.

Alan O’Neil, Unity CEO shared, “The Helmsley Charitable Trust has been a wonderful supporter of healthcare technology and beyond. It is so apparent that leading edge technology is a critical component of providing the best patient care possible. Especially in a rural setting, where miles and minutes matter when it comes to taking care of patients. We thank them for their continued support.”

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body. This safe, cost-effective tool supports other clinical information to help providers make timely diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment. The grant money from the Helmsley Charitable Trust has allowed Unity to bring services to those in need, by purchasing four GE Venue Point of Care Ultrasound Machines and one GE Voluson OB machine with 3D/4D capabilities for the providers, and one diagnostic Philips Epiq Elite Ultrasound Machine for the Ultrasound department. The equipment has allowed for new services to be offered at Unity. The Point of Care Ultrasound Machines have given the providers opportunities to perform in-office ultrasound procedures. This grant has provided a positive impact on the community since more is offered from the use of the equipment. The community has experienced reduced wait times and expenses from not having to travel to another facility for diagnostic ultrasound services and procedures. This helps fulfill Unity’s commitment of bringing services to those in need.

Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, said the grants will help improve access to top-notch medical treatment for North Dakotans, whether they live in Fargo, Bismarck, or Grand Forks, or a smaller rural community such as Bottineau, Rugby, or Hettinger.

“These grants will help ensure that hospitals and health centers across North Dakota have the latest in state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment and training,” Panzirer said. “Facilities need to stay current with rapidly advancing technology so they can continue to provide the very best healthcare close to home.”

The majority (134) of the devices purchased through the grants are POCUS machines, which are used by providers at the bed or tableside for immediate assessment of a patient to quickly determine a course of action. The grants will also provide 57 general ultrasound systems and 24 cardiovascular ultrasound systems, which aid in imaging of the heart.

The initiative also includes nearly $1.9 million to North Dakota State University and nearly $3.8 million to High Quality Medical Education (HQMEDED) to expand sonographer expertise and provide comprehensive POCUS training to doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Additionally, more than $64,000 will go to individual facilities to boost sonographer training.

The Helmsley Charitable Trust has committed a total of $72 million to fund ultrasound equipment and training initiatives for rural communities and underserved populations in Nevada, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

2024 80% in Every Community National Achievement Award Honoree

The latest blog from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable highlights our work to increase colorectal cancer screening rates and reach #80PercentinEveryCommunity, but especially ours in Grafton, ND! Read more about all we’ve done since October 2022 to increase rates to 71.5% screened for colorectal cancer.

https://nccrt.org/2024-honoree-blog-unity-medical-center/