Our Story
Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County began in September 1981 as Hospice of Reno County, an all-volunteer organization located in the basement of the Hutchinson Clinic. Our founders, Dr. David and JoAnn Bouda, believed it was important to offer care to terminally ill patients based on a philosophy followed in the hospices of France - to provide comfort and preserve dignity when conventional methods fail.
In 1985, the agency became an affiliate of Health Care, Inc., the umbrella corporation of what is now the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. We earned certification as a home health agency and expanded our services to meet both the homecare and hospice needs of Reno County residents.
As a non-profit organization, fundraising is critical to support the services we provide. In 1987 we initiated our first "Tree of Remembering" campaign. Years later it evolved into our "Remember Me Tree" campaign and continues to be a major source of funding for the organization today.
In 1989 we earned Medicare certification and in 1991 expanded our services to include Rice County and a 30-mile radius outside of Hutchinson.
In 1993 we saw a need to develop programs specifically for grieving children. Kids Kamp and Kids Klub have helped area children learn to cope and accept terminal illness and death ever since.
In 1996 we opened the Hospice Residential Care Center on the third floor of Hutchinson Regional Hospital, offering care to terminally ill patients who did not have the benefit of a caregiver at home. In the fall of 2002 we moved and expanded these services with the opening of Hospice House, an inpatient home-like setting, that provides end-of-life care for terminally ill patients.
Today, our service area encompasses a 50-mile radius outside Hutchinson. With offices in Hutchinson and McPherson, we are conveniently located and remain the only not-for-profit hospice and homecare organization in the area.
