History of Hand In Hand Hospice
Hand In Hand Homecare and Hospice is a community-based, nonprofit agency in Emporia, Kansas. The hospice service began through volunteer efforts in Emporia in 1983 and was knows as Hospice of the Flint Hills. In 1992, Hospice of the Flint Hills received Medicare approval. Four years later, Hospice of the Flint Hills merged with Newman Regional Health to increase healthcare efficiency in the community. In September 1996, following the merger with Newman Hospital, the organization changed its name to Hand In Hand Homecare and Hospice (HIH).
In February 1997, HIH was reviewed by the Joint Commission Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO), nationwide organization dedicated to improving the quality of the nation's healthcare through voluntary accreditation. HIH received immediate accreditation without any recommendations. In July 2001, HIH received accreditation again.
A Board of Directors is utilized to offer advice and recommendations to Hand In Hand Hospice. There are nine members on the Board, with many prominent community members in service.
The mission of Hand In Hand is to "...affirm individual dignity and quality of life, from birth to death, in our community." Hospice care neither hastens nor postpones death, but views death as a natural part of the life cycle. Each year Hand In Hand has enabled patients to fulfill their wishes by allowing them to die with dignity and comfort in their homes or in a home-like setting such as nursing home residence. Hand In Hand Hospice is the only not-for-profit, community-based hospice serving Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Morris, Osage, and portions of Wabaunsee counties of East-Central Kansas. Approximately 80,000 people lie in this service area.