When it comes to ranking health in Kansas, Saline County has room for improvement.

According to the fifth annual County Health Rankings, released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute , Saline County is ranked the 62nd healthiest county out of 98 eligible Kansas counties.

The County Health Rankings rank the overall health of nearly every county in all 50 states. The Rankings allow counties to see how well they are doing on 29 factors that influence health including smoking, high school graduation rates, employment, physical inactivity, and access to healthy foods.

Saline County’s overall ranking of 62 out of the 98 eligible counties in Kansas means we have work to do. Areas for improvement are: quality of life, social & economic factors, and physical environment. Saline County does have one very strong area- clinical care, ranked 2 in the state. The county continues to improve in the areas of preventable hospital stays, diabetic screening, and mammography screening.

Amanda Michaelis, Executive Director of the Salina Area United Way, lends her thoughts on improving community health. “Increasing the health of our community starts with you. Salina Area United Way is working towards a “Bold Goal” in the priority area of health to increase the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoiding risky behavior. The United Way is working with local businesses and organizations to begin a “Community Health Collaboration” to further establish a healthier community. By engaging in simple activities such as keeping your environment clean, taking a walk, or choosing a healthy option for lunch, everyone can work together to improve the overall health and rank of Saline County.”

According to the 2014 Rankings, the five healthiest counties in Kansas, starting with the most healthy, are Johnson, Riley, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, and Stevens. The five counties in the poorest health, starting with the least healthy, are Woodson, Elk, Wyandotte, Chautauqua, and Decatur.

The Rankings are available by county and state at www.countyhealthrankings.org. See for yourself how Kansas counties compare and find out how to take action today.