Give us a Call! 855-429-7633
      Associate Links
Hays Medical Center
  • Home
  • Services
  • Providers
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Patients & Visitors
  • News
  • Home
  • Services
  • Providers
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Patients & Visitors
  • News

Blog

Hays Medical Center > HaysMed News > HaysMed receives award for healthy initiatives

HaysMed receives award for healthy initiatives

By Gayla Wichman - In HaysMed News - June 24, 2016

Hays Daily News
Juno OgleJune 22, 2016

Hays Medical Center had 1,000 reasons to celebrate Wednesday afternoon.

The hospital was one of two chosen for the Healthy Kansas Hospitals Centers of Excellence Award, with a $1,000 check presented during a ceremony in the recently renovated dining area.

The Rock Garden Cafe, opened in March, brings healthier food options to patients and hospital staff. Fried foods have been replaced with nutritious items like fresh-made hummus, baklava and grilled salmon. A larger portion of the hospital’s food budget is dedicated to purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables and offering more beverage items such as fruit-infused water as an option to sugary soft drinks.

The hospital joined the Healthy Kansas Hospitals initiative at its inception in 2014 and was one of 27 to follow through on changes, said Melissa Hungerford, CEO of the Kansas Hospital Education and Research Foundation, which created the initiative.

Clara Barton Hospital in Great Bend also received the award.

Part of the driving force in the changes was the hiring of John Fitzthum as executive chef, said Dr. John Jeter, HaysMed president and CEO.

“There’s a big topic in the chef world of knowing where your food comes from and what are the ingredients,” Fitzthum said. “In industrial cooking, things come prepared for you, and when things come prepared for you, they’re not as fresh.”

He has agreements to purchase fruits and vegetables with Bethesda Place, a privately owned 45-acre farm west of Hays that houses and employs men with mental disabilities.

“I’ve been in conversation with a Kansas beef supplier, so we are constantly improving our local sourcing,” Fitzthum said.

The chef acknowledged an increase in costs — approximately 12 percent — since he started at the hospital in October 2014, but only part of that is due to the extra labor of chopping fruits and vegetables, roasting meats and baking bread every day. Food prices in general have increased, he said.

Another part of the hospital’s success in the initiative was the cooperation between food services and the hospital’s Center for Health Improvement, Jeter said.

“What a great marriage of the components that make us healthy related to diet, related to exercise, related to other lifestyle factors,” Jeter said.

“I would say we’re way ahead of the curve when it comes to the national movement toward population health.”

The hospital added two indoor walking trails for staff and visitors, conducts 15-minute workouts classes for staff and offers free cooking classes open to the public.

“I think that’s how health care is changing, just combining some departments that you never would have thought would fit together,” said Stephanie Howie, fitness director at the health center.

  • hays ks
  • hays medical center
  • haysmed
  • healthy hospitals
← HaysMed CardioPulmonary Staff Earn Certifications
HaysMed Chef Competes in National Blended Burger Competition →
Related Posts

Upcoming Events

  1. Diabetes Solutions Class – July 5, 2022

    July 5 @ 8:45 am - 2:30 pm
  2. Diabetes Solutions Class – July 12, 2022

    July 12 @ 8:45 am - 2:30 pm
  3. Diabetes Solutions Class – September 6, 2022

    September 6 @ 8:45 am - 2:30 pm
  4. Diabetes Solutions Class – September 13, 2022

    September 13 @ 8:45 am - 2:30 pm
  5. Diabetes Solutions Class – November 1, 2022

    November 1 @ 8:45 am - 2:30 pm

View All Events

Recent Posts

  • HaysMed Nurse Recognized with Daisy Award
    May 10, 2022
  • HaysMed Celebrates Annual Service Awards
    April 6, 2022
  • Visitor Guidelines Effective April 1, 2022
    April 1, 2022
  • HaysMed Receives High 5 for Mom & Baby Premier Recognition
    March 11, 2022
  • HaysMed Named Top 20 Rural and Community Hospital
    March 9, 2022
  • HaysMed Nurse Recognized with Daisy Award
    February 24, 2022
  • The Center for Women’s Health joins statewide movement to support mothers’ mental health
    February 15, 2022
  • HaysMed Designated a 2022 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital
    February 14, 2022
  • HaysMed Has Always Specialized in You
    January 28, 2022
  • Daisy Nurse Leader Award
    January 26, 2022

Contact HaysMed

Send us an Email

Hays Medical Center
855-429-7633
2220 Canterbury Dr
Hays, KS 67601

Keep in Touch!

    

Search

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • March 2013
© Hays Medical Center
Nondiscrimination Statement | Patients Rights & Responsibilities | Notice of Privacy Practices | No Surprise Disclosure | Good Faith Estimate