Mile Bluff CEO named to Becker's lists of 'CEOs to Know'
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Mile Bluff Medical Center President and CEO Dara Bartels has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 lists of "209 Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know," "118 Rural Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know," and "207 Community Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know."
In a brief biographical sketch published as part of the lists, Becker’s wrote:
209 Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know - 118 Rural Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know
Ms. Bartels leads Mile Bluff Medical Center in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to over 55,000 residents in south-central Wisconsin. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare finance and executive leadership, she has driven significant advancements in operational efficiency, including the integration of AI-powered tools that save clinicians time and improve patient care. Her strong leadership has led to numerous capital improvements, including facility expansions and enhanced service lines. She fosters a positive workplace culture that prioritizes staff engagement and retention. The medical center has earned multiple recognitions under her care, including the “Performance Leadership Award” from The Chartis Center for Rural Health for excellence in outcomes in 2024.
207 Community Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know
Since assuming leadership of Mile Bluff Medical Center in December 2021, Ms. Bartels has driven innovation in rural healthcare, serving 55,000 residents across an eight-county region. Under her direction, the medical center became the first adopter of Expanse Navigator, an AI-powered tool integrated with Google Health that has reduced clinician charting time by over seven minutes per patient encounter. Ms. Bartels has encouraged systemwide collaboration, extending the use of AI beyond physicians to pharmacy, revenue cycle and health information management departments. Her focus on operational excellence and clinical innovation helped the medical center earn a 2024 Chartis award for performance leadership and a Leapfrog “A” safety grade. Ms. Bartels’ background in healthcare finance includes roles at La Crosse, Wis.-based Gundersen Health and Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health, equipping her with a unique perspective on the fiscal sustainability of rural systems.
Read the full lists by clicking on the links below.
Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know
Rural Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know
