IRON RIVER – Aspirus Upper Peninsula Regional CEO Chuck Nelson has been named among “50 rural hospital CEOs to know” by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Becker’s Hospital Review is the health care industry’s leading publication of cutting-edge topics geared toward an audience of 18,500 high-level hospital leaders.

According to Becker’s, its list recognizes 50 CEOs for their dedication to advancing health care in their communities. Leaders were selected through an editorial process based on awards received; local, regional and national leadership positions held; and their organization’s recent performance.

“To be recognized by leading organizations for the quality of care we provide is a statement about the quality of Aspirus health care overall in the Upper Peninsula,” Nelson said.

“A key thing to know about the health care Aspirus provides to the communities of the Upper Peninsula is that the majority of care more than 90 percent in some locations is provided to people at our facilities in the U.P., so people can stay close to home.”

Nelson is one of two CEOs to receive the designation in Michigan and the only CEO from the U.P.

Nelson oversees Aspirus Grand View Hospital in Ironwood, Mich., Aspirus Iron River in Iron River, Mich., Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital in Ontonagon, Mich., and Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium, Mich.

Under his leadership, the National Rural Health Association named Aspirus Grand View a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital in 2015.

In 2014, Aspirus Keweenaw and Aspirus Grand View hospitals were named among America’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals by the iVantage Strength INDEX. They were identified among the best 1,300 critical access hospitals in the nation.

Nelson works with a regional leadership team to manage an Aspirus health care staff that features more than 1,700 people in the U.P. Together, Aspirus hospitals in the U.P. provide more than $80 million in salaries and benefits, supporting the vitality of communities in six counties.

Aspirus facilities in the U.P. include hospitals, clinics, and emergency centers that deliver family medicine, women’s health, heart care, cancer care, orthopedics, outpatient therapies, eye care and in-home health care.

“While it’s incredible to be recognized by Becker’s, the reward I value most is being able to work with such an excellent group of dedicated people,” Nelson said.

“The doctors, nurses and entire support staff of Aspirus in the U.P. and system-wide are truly outstanding and that reflects in the excellent performance of our hospitals,” he added.