On April 1, 2005, Tom Moreland moved into the first Iowa Hospice office in Johnston, Iowa. He took the key, opened the door, and saw a difficult road ahead. Tom had no furniture, no phones, and no employees. He only had a 55-page business plan that would be his map and blueprint for his dream.
And Tom was dreaming big. With the help of his father, John Moreland, a longtime builder and entrepreneur, Tom was able to secure the money needed to start Iowa Hospice. Tom took the lead role as president and CEO, but also as the visionary who saw a way to change the face of end-of-life care in Iowa.

His vision began in college, where Tom worked two summers with the Missionaries of Charity (the order founded by Mother Teresa) in San Francisco at the “Gift of Love” AIDS Hospice. Tom witnessed the unconditional love the women had for the men at the hospice. When they cared for them, fed them, bathed them, cleaned for them, cried with them, and ultimately went on the journey of death with them, they never saw a criminal, an intravenous drug user, a non-Christian, or someone with a different sexual lifestyle.

Tom can testify with all his heart and soul that these women saw Jesus in these men. They saw Christ in the suffering, Christ in the sick, and Christ in the dying. Christ said, "What you do for the least of your brethren, you do for me." This scripture was real for these women, and they took immense joy in serving their fellow brethren, some of who had been abandoned by their own families. Tom cannot say he is so holy, but he founded Iowa Hospice on the principles learned from his experience at the "Gift of Love" AIDS Hospice.

And Iowa Hospice became a reality with the help of many people through hard work and perseverance. On April 25, 2005, Tom welcomed the first two employees. Dee Hiveley was a nurse and had worked in hospice care since 1987. She is currently the Vice President of Clinical Operations. Martha Owen had been an administrator for medical practices since 1986, and she served as the Vice President of Corporate Operations. Together they had more than 60 years of experience in healthcare.

In May 2005, Dr. Ben Collins agreed to oversee the program as the first Medical Director. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer.

On June 3, 2005, Iowa Hospice admitted its first patient.

On August 1, 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, in collaboration with Iowa's Department of Inspection and Appeals, officially recognized and certified Iowa Hospice.