• OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned Critical Access Hospital designation, strengthening its ability to provide care close to home.
• The designation provides greater flexibility and supports the hospital’s long-term sustainability as a rural healthcare provider.
• Van Wert Hospital successfully completed a comprehensive Joint Commission survey as part of the designation process

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned Critical Access Hospital designation, strengthening its ability to provide high-quality, patient-centered care while supporting the hospital's long-term sustainability and access to services close to home.

The Critical Access Hospital program was established to help rural hospitals maintain local access to care by providing additional flexibility through a cost-based Medicare reimbursement model.

“This designation helps ensure we can continue providing the care our community depends on, now and into the future,” said Paula Stabler, president, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “It strengthens our hospital, supports our caregivers and positions us to meet the healthcare needs of our community for years to come.”

With this designation, Van Wert Hospital joins other OhioHealth rural hospitals operating under the Critical Access Hospital model, including OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital and OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital.

Critical Access Hospitals are designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and must meet specific operational and regulatory requirements. As part of the designation process, Van Wert Hospital successfully completed a comprehensive Joint Commission survey assessing its compliance with nationally recognized standards for quality and patient safety through on-site observations and reviews of clinical and operational processes.

“Our priority is always making sure our patients receive safe, compassionate care," said Leslie Beining, chief nursing officer, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. "Critical Access Hospital designation gives our teams the flexibility and resources needed to provide that care and support the needs of our community.”

Van Wert Hospital leaders said they remain focused on providing trusted, patient-focused care throughout the transition. 

To learn more, visit jointcommission.org/accreditation/critical-access-hospital.

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital a 5-star overall hospital quality rating for 2026
• The hospital is among 384 hospitals nationwide and 18 in Ohio to receive the 5-star designation
• Van Wert Hospital also earned a separate 5-star rating for cleanliness

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned a 5-star overall hospital quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2026, the highest rating possible through the program.

The CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings are designed to help patients and families compare hospitals based on measures tied to quality and safety. The 2026 ratings evaluate hospitals across five categories, including mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience and timely and effective care.

“These recognitions come from the dedication our teams bring to patients every day,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “We are deeply committed to caring for patients like family, and we’re proud to provide the kind of high-quality care our community deserves close to home.”

Van Wert Hospital was among 384 hospitals nationwide and 18 in Ohio to receive a 5-star rating this year. The hospital also received a 5-star rating for cleanliness based on patient survey responses.

“We are committed to providing a clean, safe environment to all of our patients, visitors and associates,” said Paul Bohner, manager of Environmental Services at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “This would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the entire environmental services team.”

CMS star ratings are based on publicly reported hospital performance data collected by the federal government. The methodology is intended to provide consumers with a simplified overall summary of hospital quality performance.

These recognitions add to a growing list of national honors for Van Wert Hospital, including being named earlier this year among the nation’s Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals by the National Rural Health Association.

The full list of 2026 CMS 5-star quality hospitals is available here. The list of hospitals receiving 5-star cleanliness ratings is available here.

The drive is designed to help ensure local residents have access to nutritious food. Volunteers from all three organizations will work together to distribute food and essential supplies to families in need.
 

The organizations host several drives throughout the year, with many events providing several tons of food to hundreds of families in just a few short hours.
 

“Supporting access to healthy food is an important part of improving health in our community,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “It’s through collaboration like this that we can help put food on the table for local families who need it most.”

Van Wert Hospital is the only hospital in Ohio to receive this distinction.

The designation is based on an evaluation conducted by The Chartis Center for Rural Health using the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, a comprehensive and objective assessment of rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospital performance across the United States.

The Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals represent the highest performers among the hospitals named to the Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals list. Hospitals were assessed across eight pillars of performance:

• Inpatient Market Share
• Outpatient Market Share
• Quality
• Outcomes
• Patient Perspective
• Cost
• Charge
• Finance

“This recognition reflects the incredible work of our entire team,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Our focus has always been on serving our patients and community with compassion and excellence, and I’m proud that our efforts are being acknowledged on a national level.”

An official recognition by the National Rural Healthcare Association will take place at its annual rural health conference in May.

To view the full list of recipients, click here.

To learn more about OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital's services and programs, click here. 

About the National Rural Health Association

The National Rural Health Association is a national nonprofit membership organization with more than 20,000 members. The association provides leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education and research and works to improve the health and wellbeing of rural Americans.

About the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX

The Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX uses publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to compare rural and Critical Access Hospitals across market, value-based and financial performance indicators. The INDEX evaluates 36 indicators across eight pillars to provide a comprehensive view of rural hospital performance and serves as the foundation for many of rural healthcare’s most prominent awards.

More than 30 years ago, Stabler was looking for a way to stay active and have fun. That’s when she discovered an adult class at Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks in Van Wert and decided to give it a try. That decision sparked a hobby that would span decades.

She joined adult hip hop and jazz classes, learning choreography, rehearsing with her peers and even competing.

“I just enjoy moving,” Stabler said. “I love music, and I’ve always been into music and dance. Even when my boys were younger, we would just listen to music and dance around the house.”

Dance quickly became a family affair. Her oldest son started at the same studio when he was just three years old. Stabler kept dancing alongside him, and together they built memories on and off stage. By the time he graduated high school, they had both earned trophies for participating in 15 years of classes.

Stabler’s love of dance even shaped major family milestones. At her wedding, she and her husband surprised guests with a flash mob that transitioned from a slow ballad to a hip hop routine. Their wedding party joined in, and the celebration ended with a dance-off between the men and women.

“It was so much fun,” Stabler said laughing. “No one saw it coming. We just went for it and had the best time.”

The tradition carried into the next generation at her son’s wedding, this time surprising the guests with a mother-son routine. The choreography was created by fellow Van Wert Hospital associate, Administrative Nurse Manager, Chelsey Young, who also happens to be an instructor at Kim Hohman’s.

“We practiced weekly for about four weeks before the wedding,” Stabler said. “We again started out with a slow song and then busted into a hip hop choreographed routine. It was a lot of fun.”

Dance is still part of Stabler’s life, even if she doesn’t perform every week. Her nine-year-old granddaughter now dances at the studio where both Stabler and her son spent countless hours. Her son has become a devoted “prop dad,” helping backstage at competitions and recitals, and he even joins the other fathers for the studio’s annual dads dance.

“It’s come full circle,” Stabler said. “It’s been such a big part of all of our lives. Now it’s my granddaughter’s turn.”

This year marks Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks’ 30th anniversary, and Stabler is tempted to lace up her dancing shoes once again, “If they bring back an alumni dance, I might just go for it one more time.”

That pull is really about what dance has always given her.

“It helps relieve stress. It gets your body moving, it makes you laugh and it brings you together with other people. We’d make ourselves laugh all the time. It’s just the greatest time.”

Secret Lives is an ongoing series that shares the unusual past careers and unique hobbies of OhioHealth associates, physicians and volunteers.

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has named Leslie Beining, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer. Beining, who previously served as the hospital’s senior advisor of operations, brings more than two decades of nursing leadership experience to the role. 

With her prior experience as the hospital’s manager of Quality/Accreditation and Patient Safety -- Beining takes on the role of chief nursing officer with a proven track record of fostering a culture of patient-centered care and driving operational improvements. 

As chief nursing officer at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, Beining will oversee all nursing operations – focusing on workplace culture for associates and providing patients with the highest-level care close to home. 

“We are thrilled to see Leslie advance into the role of chief nursing officer,” said Paula Stabler, president of Van Wert Hospital. “She understands the importance of compassionate, collaborative care and she is dedicated to empowering our nurses. Congratulations Leslie, on your new role within our OhioHealth family!” 

The role of chief nursing officer was previously held by Paula Stabler, MSN, RN, – who was named president of Van Wert Hospital earlier this year. 

“I am honored to step into this role at Van Wert Hospital where our team is deeply connected to the community we serve,” said Beining. “I look forward to working alongside our incredible nursing team to ensure quality and compassionate care for our patients for years to come.” 
 

“This is the same advanced technology used at larger OhioHealth facilities in Columbus,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Now, patients in our community can receive the same high-quality care close to home, ensuring they remain comfortable with providers they know and trust.” 

Philips EPIQ CVx is a premium cardiovascular ultrasound system offering numerous powerful FDA-cleared AI applications and advanced diagnostic solutions. This technology shortens the time it takes to perform and interpret an exam [1-5], while improving accuracy and reproducibility [1,5,6,7]. It also enhances resolution and streamlines workflows while elevating quality and clarity to boost clinical confidence [8] in treating patients with conditions including pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, coronary disease and heart failure. 

“The introduction of 3D imaging is a significant upgrade,” said Taylor Dahlinghaus, manager of Radiology Support Services at Van Wert Hospital. “We’ve always provided echocardiography services, but this new technology improves image clarity and allows us to see detailed views of the heart like never before.” 

“As the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and other conditions continues to rise, early diagnosis and effective treatment are more critical than ever,” said David Handler, general manager of cardiac ultrasound at Philips. “Leveraging automation and AI-based technologies that make echo exams easier, faster and more reproducible, clinicians at OhioHealth Van Wert can effectively and efficiently treat routine and complex cardiac issues, advancing patient care and improving outcomes.” 

# # # 

_{[1] The Auto Measure feature can reduce the quantification time by 51%. VM9 claims document 270472 A. 
[2] The AutoSTRAIN application utilizes two automation technologies: Auto View Recognition and Auto Contour Placement. While the implementation of these automation tools drives simple, fast workflow for robust and reproducible GLS measurements, the user retains the ability to edit and override the automation to facilitate good clinical practice. AutoSTRAIN – automated global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurement, Verena Roediger, PhD. PM, TOMTEC/Philips White Paper. Printed in The Netherlands. 4522 991 45791 * FEB 2019. 
[3] After performing 10 echo exams with the Compact 5500 system there was 80% agreement that the AutoStrain LV application was fast and easy to use. 275264C_Protego Claims List for Marketing Communications and 277399 Protego User Preference 
[4] Reduce your 2D diagnostic echo exam time by 20% by incorporating Philips automated solutions into your everyday echo. 270472_VMQ9.0 Claims Evidence Report 
[5] HeartModel study (4522 991 17141 * MAY 2016) by Dr. Roberto Lang: Automated transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiographic quantification of the left heart chambers 
[6] Conclusion: RT3DE yields accurate and reproducible RV volumes. The calculated percentile curves may facilitate the clinical use of RT3DE to analyze RV function in children. This study done with Philips 3D AutoRV. Laser, K. T., et al. (2018). “Validation and Reference Values for Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Right Ventricular Volumetry in Children: A Multicenter Study.” J Am Soc Echocardiogr 31(9): 1050-1063. 
[7] Henry MP, et al., Three-Dimensional Transthoracic Static and Dynamic Normative Values of the Mitral Valve Apparatus: Results from the Multicenter World Alliance Societies of Echocardiography Study. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2022 Jul;35(7):738-751.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2022.02.010. Epub 2022 Mar 1. PMID: 35245668; PMCID: PMC10257802. 
[8] TrueVue and the OLED monitor. Based on responses from 38 respondents. Jungen et al., PLoS One 2015 Oct 14;10(10); Left Atrial Appendage Closure Guided by Integrated Echocardiography and Fluoroscopy Imaging Reduces Radiation Exposure.} 
 

OhioHealth has named Paula Stabler, RN, MSN, president of Van Wert Hospital. A strategic and results-driven healthcare leader, Stabler brings extensive experience in clinical and operational leadership, patient-centered care, and hospital administration. She is passionate about serving the Van Wert community as well as mentoring the next generation of local healthcare providers. 

Prior to stepping into this role, Stabler served as the hospital’s chief nursing officer and senior director of patient care services since 2022. In that time, she has been instrumental in driving quality improvements initiatives, fostering a workplace culture of continuous learning, and enhancing both patient and employee satisfaction. Under her leadership, the hospital has achieved significant cost savings while providing patients access to high-level care close to home. 

“We are thrilled to have Paula step into this new role leading Van Wert Hospital,” said OhioHealth’s president of regional markets, Chris Clinton. “Her dedication to Van Wert Hospital and the community is unmatched.” 

With a strong background in executive leadership, inpatient nursing, emergency patient care, and hospital administration, Stabler has played a key role in shaping healthcare services in the community. Her accomplishments include transforming workplace culture, leading strategic partnerships, and overseeing major facility enhancements, like the Van Wert Ambulatory Walk-In Center and more recently, a $3.15 million pharmacy expansion at Van Wert Hospital. 

“I am honored to take on this role and continue working alongside our incredible team,” Stabler said. “This hospital is an essential part of the community, and I look forward to making sure we are here to make a positive impact on our patients’ lives for years to come.” 

Stabler is committed to the Van Wert Community. She serves on the following boards and committees: 
- YWCA of Van Wert County 
- United Way of Van Wert County 
- Energy Special Improvement District of Van Wert County Health Collaborative 
- Van Wert Overdose Prevention Coalition 
- Associate Member Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 62 
- Life House Church (Youth Small Group Leader) 

Before becoming the CNO of Van Wert Hospital, Stabler served as the Emergency Department director for Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana where she established streamlined processes for trauma patients and developed strategies for frontline staff to build leadership skills. 

No stranger to Van Wert Hospital, Stabler also served as director of Van Wert Health’s Emergency Department and Emergency Medical Services from 2015 – 2020. In that time, she designed and implemented new emergency department initiatives that improved patient satisfaction scores. She also co-chaired the disaster preparedness team and established the Hazardous Emergency Response Team (HERT). 

Stabler is a graduate of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where she received her Bachelor of Science for nursing in 2010. She received a Master of Science for nursing management and leadership from Western Governors University in 2021.