Hospice of the Prairie, Inc. was formed in the spring of 1980 by the District 19 Kansas State Nurses Association with a grant from the Area Agency on Aging.  The volunteer organization incorporated in June of that same year.  Non-profit, tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) (3) was later obtained.

Hospice services were initially provided by professional nurses, social workers, ministers, and other persons interested in promoting the hospice concept.  All services were free of charge.

In 1982, Rev. Jim Hossler developed monthly bereavement support group meetings and provided individual spiritual counseling for hospice clients and their families, when needed.

After several years of consideration, on March 12, 1991, the Board of Directors made the decision to seek Medicare certification.  A full-time Executive Director was hired May 6, 1991, to pursue that goal.  Licensure and Medicare certification was obtained October 31, 1991, and Hospice of the Prairie, Inc. became the eighth hospice program in the state of Kansas to be certified.

Home Health licensure was acquired December 1, 1995.  Medicare certification for Home Health care specializing in patients with a life-limiting illness was granted March 13, 1996.

In the summer of 2002, the home health care program was expanded to include patients whose illness is not life-limiting, and the program was christened “Prairie Home Health.”

Hospice of the Prairie & Prairie Home Health continues to provide compassionate and professional home health, hospice and bereavement care to the residents of Southwest Kansas.  As the only local not for profit home health and hospice organization, Hospice of the Prairie & Prairie Home Health strives to serve the unique needs of the rural communities which it serves.