40 years of excellence
Enjoy this new video, 40 Years of Excellence that looks back on the history of Kansas City Hospice and forward to an amazing future!
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40 years ago, on November 3, 1980, Kansas City Hospice served its first patient and continued on to care for 74 more patients and families by the end of that year. We were fortunate to have a glimpse into the early days when we heard from the first nurse Mary Lou Hathaway as she joined us virtually at Sunday Night Live, last month. She reflected on creating the original mission statement and developing initial protocols.
Milestones
- 1980 – Kansas City Hospice served its first patient on November 3
- 1984 – KCH achieved Medicare Hospice Certification
- 1989 – The Pediatrics team was formed, now called Carousel
- 1996 – KCH Foundation was formed
- 1996 – The first annual Camp Carousel was held
- 2003 – A new name – Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
- 2004 – Palliative Home Health team was formed
- 2005 – Palliative Medicine Fellowship was created – the first in our region
- 2006 – Kansas City Hospice House™ was opened – the first in our city & state
- 2009 – Solace House joined the scope of services
- 2010 – The first annual Camp Erin was introduced to the community
- 2015 – NorthCare Hospice & NorthCare Hospice House became part of the family
- 2016 – The signature fundraising event evolved into “Sunday Night Live“
- 2019 – Served more than 5,400 patients and individuals across all of programs
Looking to the future
As of 2020, we proudly employ more than 370 staff, we serve nearly 500 patients every day and support more than 3,300 bereaved at any one point in time during the year. While the numbers are impressive, the impact is what is important.
Our mission is to bring expert care, peace of mind, comfort, guidance, and hope to people who are affected by life-limiting illness or by grief. When we achieve our mission, we achieve our vision which is each person in our community is valued from life through death and each family is supported in their grief.
About Us
January 19th, 2021 at 3:59 pm
My husband, Jim, was transferred to Hospice House from Shawnee Mission Medical Center in a semi-comatose, state…we didn’t know if he would make it alive. We were greeted with a very friendly staff and made to feel very comfortable. Jim was taken to a room and made comfortable. I can’t begin to tell you what a relief I felt at the skill and kindness the staff showed both to Jim and me and our children. As a retired RN, I cannot think of one complaint. Another thing, the convenience of food storage, and the daily pot of soup and snacks was such a welcome treat. I gladly recommend Hospice House to anyone who asks. Jim was a patient there for a week and passed away very peacefully.
January 19th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Edith, it was an honor to be entrusted with your husband’s care. We are so glad to have been there for you and appreciate your kind thoughts. May he rest in peace.