Written by Christina Janney
haze post
On Friday, a group of community members gathered in Hays for a HaysMed health screening.
As a nonprofit organization, HaysMed is required to conduct a community health assessment every three years. Although this evaluation focuses on the community as a whole, not all aspects covered in the evaluation are under his HaysMed jurisdiction.
Almost two-thirds of the 32 participants said mental health care was one of the greatest needs in their community. Mental health also topped the list of residents who responded to the local health needs assessment survey.
Health care for the uninsured and underinsured, more medical professionals, and a memory management department were also cited as the top needs.
Raising awareness of community services and addressing domestic violence and sexual assault are tied to round out the top six most important health needs for communities identified by the group.
Other unmet needs include social engagement for youth, affordable child care, dentists and periodontists, access to transportation, senior housing, and safe and affordable child care. Housing etc. were mentioned.
mental health care
Hays has been diagnosed with depression at about the same rate as the rest of northwest Kansas, with 19.9 percent of residents having been diagnosed with depression, according to data presented at City Hall.
The suicide rate was lower than the state average of 18.7 per 100,000 people and 21.6 per 100,000 in northwest Kansas.
Twenty percent of survey respondents said community mental health responsiveness in Ellis County is low or very low. A similar proportion said they also believed the community’s response to substance abuse and suicide prevention was low or very low, and facilitator Vince VanDeHaar said this was a cause for concern. He said that this is a trend that should be followed.
Survey respondents said they believe Ellis County has a similar lack of preparedness to address violence and abuse prevention.
access to healthcare
As of 2022, 12.3 percent of Ellis County residents will live in poverty, according to data presented at City Hall. This is down slightly from 13.1 percent in 2021, when the last medical exam was completed. This is higher than the average for the state and northwestern Kansas (both 11%).
However, the number of uninsured residents in Ellis County has increased since 2021, with 8.8 percent of Ellis County residents uninsured in 2021 and 9.6 percent in 2024. However, this is still lower than the state and northwest Kansas average of 10 percent.
HaysMed continues to serve our communities through compassionate care and bad debt relief. In 2023, HaysMed spent $5.8 million on charity care and wrote off nearly $2.7 million in bad debt.
Approximately 69 (20-64) of every 1,000 adults in Ellis County (about 7%) receive Kansas medical assistance. This is nearly below the state average of 100 per 1,000 residents (10%).
Responding to medical needs
The group expressed the need for more specialists Friday, but data presented showed that most Ellis County residents rely on HaysMed for their medical care.
• 77.4% of hospitalized patients used HaysMed
• 86.4% of outpatients used HaysMed
• 93.5% of emergency patients used HaysMed
Data shows Ellis County residents have average to good access to preventive health measures.
• Almost 90% had access to exercise.
• 52% have an annual mammogram, which is 10% higher than the state average.
• 74% had an annual health check, which was about the regional average.
• 67% have a dental checkup once a year, which is 4% higher than the state average.
Overall, 61% of respondents to the health assessment survey said they rated health care provision in their area as “good” or “very good.” Another 30% said it was average.
