Your coverage may be affected by BCBSKS negotiations.
Please note that the HaysMed Outpatient Draw Site will close at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, one hour earlier than normal.
Regular hours:
Thank you for your understanding!
This World Breastfeeding Week, we’re celebrating the power of one mom making a big impact.
HaysMed is proud to partner with Mothers’ Milk Bank and the Ellis County Breastfeeding Coalition to provide pasteurized donor human milk to newborn patients who need it most.
Pictured with HaysMed lactation services Jill Rozean, BSN, RN, IBCLC.
After a summer filled with movement, adventure, and healthy habits, the Center for Health Improvement (CHI) is proud to celebrate the successful completion of the 2026 Kids Quest program.
Designed to encourage children to stay active during the summer months, Kids Quest challenged youth in Pre-K through 8th grade to complete 60 miles through running, walking, biking, swimming, or a combination of activities. The free community program kicked off on June 1 and welcomed all children, regardless of CHI membership status.
“One of our goals at CHI and HaysMed is to help children build healthy habits while making fitness fun,” said Stephanie Howie, Director of CHI. “Kids Quest gives families a free and exciting way to stay active throughout the summer and discover that movement can be its own adventure.”
Participants who completed the challenge earned a commemorative Kids Quest t-shirt and received coupons and prizes donated by local businesses and organizations that partnered to make the program a success. The community support behind Kids Quest helped create an experience that rewarded healthy choices while showcasing many of the family-friendly opportunities available throughout the region.
Emma and Julie completed the 2026 Kids Quest! Their favorite activity was swimming, but they also logged plenty of miles walking throughout the summer challenge.
A special thank you goes to the HaysMed Foundation, whose sponsorship of the Kids Quest t-shirts helps make the program possible each year.
“At the HaysMed Foundation, we are proud to support programs that encourage healthy lifestyles and bring families together,” said Jeff Brull, Executive Director of the HaysMed Foundation. “Kids Quest is a wonderful example of a community-centered program that promotes physical activity, builds lifelong healthy habits, and gives children the opportunity to have fun while staying active throughout the summer. We’re honored to play a role in its success.”
National Parks map for Kids Quest
Thank You to Our 2026 Kids Quest Sponsors
Kids Quest participants received rewards inspired by America’s national parks, with each sponsor contributing a special prize to the children who completed the Quest:
Congratulations to Aliya, Michael, and Tyson on completing the 2026 Kids Quest! Pictured with Kolynn from CHI’s Play Center, these young adventurers reached their 60-mile goal and finished the summer strong.
Building Healthy Habits for a Lifetime
The success of Kids Quest demonstrates the power of community partnerships and the importance of providing children with opportunities to stay active when school is not in session. By turning fitness into a summer-long adventure, participants were encouraged to explore new activities, spend time outdoors, and develop habits that support lifelong health and wellness.
Programs like Kids Quest would not be possible without the support of community sponsors and the HaysMed Foundation, whose investment helps remove barriers to participation and keeps the program free for families throughout the region.
CHI and HaysMed extend a heartfelt thank you to every child, parent, volunteer, sponsor, and the HaysMed Foundation for helping make the 2026 Kids Quest another memorable and successful summer tradition.
Families interested in future youth wellness programs can learn more by visiting the Center for Health Improvement or following HaysMed and CHI for upcoming activities and events.
HaysMed is proud to offer monthly Volunteer Community Blood Screenings to support the health and wellness of our community. These screenings are a convenient and affordable way to monitor key health indicators. We encourage all community members to take advantage of these screenings as part of their preventive health care. No appointment is necessary, just walk in!
Your health matters, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. We hope to see you on August 1 at HaysMed!
Time: 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Location: 2220 Canterbury Drive – Entrance B
Available Tests & Pricing:
Please Note:
Upcoming 2026 Volunteer Community Blood Screening Dates:
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Saturday, December 5, 2026
We’re always looking for ways to make healthcare information easier for our patients to access. That’s why we’re excited to share that the HaysMed website now includes a Spanish-language option.
Visitors can easily switch between English and Spanish using the language toggle at the top of the website, making it simpler for more patients and families to find the information they need about services, providers, and care.
You can also access the Spanish version of our website directly at: https://www.haysmed.com/es/
At HaysMed, we’re committed to helping our communities connect with the care and information they need, when they need it.
The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Recognition Gold award recognizes efforts to address the unique health needs of rural communities
People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts and have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality, according to an American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. HaysMed and the DeBakey Heart Institute is committed to changing that.
For its efforts to optimize stroke care and reduce gaps in rural health outcomes, HaysMed has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Recognition Gold award.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detectionand rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.
The American Heart Association recognizes the importance of health care services provided to people living in rural areas by rural hospitals that play a vital role in initiation of timely evidence-based care. For that reason, all rural hospitals participating in Get With The Guidelines – Stroke are eligible to receive award recognition based on a unique methodology focused on early acute stroke performance metrics.
This recognition goes to hospitals for their commitment to acute stroke care excellence, demonstrated through performance on guideline-directed measures including intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation.
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
Your health matters, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. We hope to see you on July 11 at HaysMed!
Time: 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Location: 2220 Canterbury Drive – Hadley Room 1
Available Tests & Pricing:
Please Note:
Upcoming 2026 Volunteer Community Blood Screening Dates:
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Saturday, December 5, 2026
HaysMed’s Birth Center is offering a variety of in-person and virtual classes designed to support expecting and new families across western Kansas. Whether you’re welcoming your first baby or brushing up on the basics, our classes provide expert guidance and practical tips for every step of the journey.
All in-person classes are offered free of charge and are led by experienced HaysMed OB nurses and lactation consultants ensuring you feel informed, confident, and ready to welcome your new arrival.
Upcoming In-Person Classes:
Understanding Breastfeeding Class
August 19, 2026
November 18, 2026
Childbirth Talk and Tour
July 21, 2026
September 29, 2026
November 12, 2026
Understanding Newborn Care
August 31, 2026
Virtual Options Available
Can’t attend in person? We offer comprehensive virtual classes so families across western Kansas can access the same great support from home.
Ready to feel confident and prepared?
To register, please call The Center for Women’s Health at 785-623-5806. Our team is available Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
HaysMed is proud to announce it has received Baby-Friendly redesignation, reaffirming its commitment to excellence after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for awarding this certification in the United States.
This distinguished honor demonstrates that HaysMed is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the hard work of our Associates throughout the Baby-Friendly redesignation process,” said Kristy Schlaefli, MSN, RN, Director of Acute Care and Obstetrics. The Birth Center at HaysMed is a family-friendly, state-of-the-art facility for labor and delivery, lactation services, postpartum and surgical care for women, and neonatal intensive care for babies.
HaysMed’s Lactation Services Team is made up of international board-certified Lactation Consultants/Registered Nurses (IBCLC/RN). Our team is available to assist with inpatient and outpatient breastfeeding support or concerns.
Jill Rozean, BSN, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant in the Birth Center expressed, “HaysMed has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns. This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”
“We are committed to implementing evidence-based care through the Baby-Friendly designation to ensure that mothers delivering in our facility who intend to breastfeed, as well as those who cannot or decide not to breastfeed, are fully supported” said Jessica Seib, MSN, RN, IBCLC, OB/NICU Staff Development Coordinator and Lactation Consultant.
HaysMed joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
About HaysMed
Hays Medical Center (HaysMed) is a private, not-for-profit, 200+ bed hospital providing the only tertiary-level services in the region. As the premier provider in western Kansas for specialized care, HaysMed offers a wide variety of specialty programs including cardiology, orthopedics, cancer, surgery (general, minimally invasive and robotic), ENT, pulmonology, critical care and women’s services. HaysMed is a Level III Trauma Center and a certified Primary Stroke Center.
Other services include rehabilitation, hospice, neonatal, intensive care and diagnostic imaging, as well as a Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center and a Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Center. HaysMed is proud to be one of only 20 U.S. hospitals recognized by Vizient in 2023 as a Top Performer in the Complex Care Medical Center cohort. In 2024, HaysMed was named as one of the top 100 rural and community hospitals in the country by the National Rural Health Association and earned the prestigious five-star designation in the 2024 CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. Learn more at haysmed.com.
About Baby-Friendly USA
As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.
HaysMed is proud to welcome Ragnar S. Peterson, MD, FACS.
Dr. Peterson is known not only for his surgical skill, but also for his energy, vision, and passion for building strong programs. In 2018 he established the states only Comprehensive Hernia and Abdominal Wall Center which became a regional referral center attracting patients not only from across Kansas, but from surrounding states as far as Arizona and Texas.
Originally from Lindsborg, Kansas, Dr. Peterson brings the experience of more than 10,000 surgical procedures over a 20-year career as a surgeon and educator. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and completed his medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine followed by a General Surgery Residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He has been designated as a Surgeon of Quality by the American Hernia Society every year since 2023, the first year the award was available.
In summing up his philosophy to patient care, Dr. Peterson states “The secret to caring for the patient is caring for the patient.”
At HaysMed, he joins a highly regarded group of surgeons including Dr. Brandon Cunningham, Dr. Charles Schultz, Dr. Paul Teget, and Dr. Zurab Tsereteli who have built a trusted and comprehensive general surgery program serving patients across western Kansas.
With Dr. Peterson’s addition, HaysMed continues to expand its specialty care offerings, ensuring patients don’t have to travel far for advanced surgical care.
As the only tertiary hospital in this part of the region with 24/7 trauma surgery coverage, HaysMed plays a vital role in delivering critical, life-saving care when it’s needed most. The strength of its surgical team further reinforces that commitment to the communities it serves.
