HaysMed Receives Prestigious 2026 Baby-Friendly Redesignation
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.
