Geary County has improved in the County Health Rankings, moving from 74th out of 102 counties in health outcomes to 63rd.

According to the Geary County Health Department key improvements include tobacco cessation rates, declining from 22% down to 18%, a continued decline in the violent crime rate, and number of uninsured residents.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, compares counties within each state on more than 30 health-influencing factors such as education, jobs and access to quality healthcare.

For almost a decade, the rankings have been a benchmark for community health, using statistical modeling to estimate rates for health outcomes and factors that make a difference in how well and long we live.

The Rankings assist the local health department and public health stakeholders in starting important conversations on public health concerns and initiatives. The data is often used in local and regional grant applications that can augment program funding sources or fund new initiatives. It is also used in the compilation of community health assessments that guide local efforts. The Roadmaps portion of the Rankings assist local health departments in identifying evidence based strategies to tackle tough public health challenges.