By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

The numbers are in, and Hays Medical Center's ranking in this year's "Top 100 Places to Work in Healthcare" list prepared by Modern Healthcare magazine is up more than 50 places from last year.

Hays Med landed at No. 26 after placing 78th in last year's report.

"At the end of the day it's all about our patients and it's about making them healthy," said Nikki Adams, director of associate development. "And if we've got a healthy work environment for our associates to work in, that will have a trickle effect into our patient care."

Two other Kansas hospitals made the list this year. The University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan., and Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute, were ranked at 56 and 83, respectively.

Adams said initiatives like the hospital's culture committee, which fosters interdepartmental communication, might have contributed to the boost in this year's rating.

The magazine randomly surveyed 350 hospital employees, and the hospital's ranking was based on factors like employee benefits, company policies and workplace culture.