The kick-off of a New Year can be exciting and perhaps indicate a fresh start for some. For Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 2023 marks our 40-year anniversary.
Our story began in February 1981 when a group of civic-minded Wichita area community members held their first meeting to discuss a vital need for specialized care for the terminally ill. In March of 1982 the initial planning committee meeting was held, and the following June, Wichita Hospice Inc., the area’s first and only non-profit hospice, was incorporated. In October, the decision was made to change our name to Hospice of Wichita. Area oncologists were involved and representatives from local hospitals were on the board of directors. In October of 1983, we cared for our first patient.
In 1986 Friends of Hospice was established by dedicated volunteers who kicked off the inaugural Tree of Life campaign to raise funds for our agency. On June 18 Hospice of Wichita – the first certified hospice in Kansas – became certified for the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
In 1989 our name was changed to Hospice Inc., and we began to expand; we merged with Butler County Hospice; were invited by Cowley County Hospice and Sumner County Hospice to be the hospice provider in their counties; started serving patients in Kingman and Harper Counties; invited by Coffeyville Hospice and Mt. Carmel Hospice in Pittsburg to become the hospice provider in their area; also began serving other counties in Southeast Kansas.
In 2002 we changed our name to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice to honor one of our founders, Harry E. Hynes, M.D., (who passed away in December 2000). In 2004 we opened the Hospice Center at Via Christi – St. Francis in Wichita, the first hospital-based hospice.
In 2011 our agency received the “Health Care Hero” award from Labette Health Foundation in Southeast Kansas. In 2011, we were voted the “Readers’ Choice” for Hospice from the Wichita Eagle, as well as every year following, becoming the recipient of the honor 12 years in a row.
Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice has grown from its humble beginnings to a preferred hospice provider and our service area’s only non-profit hospice (medicare.gov) serving 25 counties in South Central and Southeast Kansas.