Today, with much corporate, individual and organizational support, Hospice of Oklahoma County, Inc. serves a nine-county area and provides end-of-life care for hundreds of persons from all walks of life.

After the original hospice agency in Oklahoma closed its doors for lack of funding, James W. Hampton, M.D. stressed the importance of re-establishing a local hospice at an Oklahoma County Medical Society Board meeting on February 6, 1990.  Dr. Hampton recommended that plans go forth to carry out that mission and a few short months later, members of the OCMS combined efforts to re-establish a community-wide, non-profit hospice. Thus, Hospice of Oklahoma County came to be. The Society's physicians were among the first in the medical community to recognize the need for care of the dying. They are considered by some as "pioneers" in hospice care.

Under the leadership of William Coleman, M.D., Robert McCaffree, M.D., Richard Trautman, M.D., and Dr. Hampton, an impressive 50-member advisory board was assembled. Seated were representatives of local hospitals, health care providers, funeral homes, doctors, lawyers, social workers, clergy, bankers, volunteers and media. All promised their expertise and guidance to make Hospice of Oklahoma County a success. They kept their promise.

With the board in place, OCMS physicians' pledged $120,000 for the new venture with an old philosophy. Local hospitals made additional significant contributions for the startup as well. Hospice of Oklahoma County opened its doors with an executive director, two nurses, limited funding, phones and desks donated by Khader Hussein, M.D. He would be an integral part in securing the agency's future through his leadership as medical director for its first five years. In 1992, the United Way of Metro Oklahoma City accepted Hospice of Oklahoma County as one of their partner agencies providing grief support for anyone in the community and care for those without financial assistance.

In 1995, Hospice of Oklahoma County, Inc. became an affiliate of INTEGRIS Health continuing its mission of enhancing the quality and dignity of life and death for the terminally ill through outreach and patient care. Partnering with OU Medical Center, Hospice of Oklahoma County, Inc. provides hospice training to their student nurses and residents. Grief support groups from our certified grief recovery counselor are available at several locations around the metro. Please call the office for exact times and locations.

HOC's future is secure thanks to the support of many physicians, nurses, hospital administrators and the community as a whole. Hospice of Oklahoma County, Inc. is now enjoying the position of being able to look back fondly more than 15 years of service and envisions many more.

The Medical Director's role is to oversee care of the hospice patient and work with your primary physician in providing you the best possible symptom control and pain management. The following are Hospice of Oklahoma County's Medical Director's:

HOSPICE OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY'S MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S

• Kathy Dagg, MD, Medical Oncologist
• Brian Geister, MD, Medical Oncologist
• James W. Hampton, MD, Medical Oncologist
• Charles Hollen, MD, Medical Oncologist
• Wesley Williams, MD, Family Medicine

HOSPICE OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Linda J. Avery, RN, CNAA,CHE
• J. Christopher Carey, M.D., Ph.D.
• Doris Clark
• James Claflin, M.D.
• Kathy Dagg, M.D.
• Terry Gonsoulin, RN,BSN
• James W. Hampton, M.D.
• Stanley F. Hupfeld, F.A.C.H.E.
• Linda Merkey, RN, MBA
• Gregory Parker, M.D.
• Earlene Posselt, M.D.
• Tom Sturdivant
• Jana Timberlake