1982

Help for Incontinent People (HIP) is founded in September 1982 by Katherine F. Jeter, EdD, frustrated by a child’s problem for which there were few resources

First The HIP Report newsletter is sent in Fall of 1982 to approximately 300 people, with financial assistance from Professional Medical Products (Charles Sigety)

1983

August 1983 Dear Abby column features HIP as a resource, resulting in more than 50,000 inquiries. Grace United Methodist Church in Union, SC responded as volunteers to fill requests

HIP is incorporated legally as a 501 (c) 3 corporation in the State of South Carolina and establishes its first Board of Directors

1984

HIP hosts the National Agenda to Promote Urinary Continence on August 5-8, 1984 in Chicago. The purpose of the National Agenda was to identify all of the resources within the U.S. for incontinence care, heighten awareness in the U.S. of incontinence, come up with guidelines on how to diagnose incontinence and how to “demystify” incontinence, and lastly, to draft a curriculum for the 16 regional workshops that would follow the National Agenda in the year thereafter

HIP publishes the first edition of the Resource Guide – Products and Services for Incontinence. Jack Jeter, spouse of Katherine Jeter, provides artwork for line drawings to illustrate products and devices to consumers in this inaugural directory

1985

HIP Board of Directors approves the inclusion of an advertising supplement with The HIP Report newsletter, the first use of commercial support for educational outreach

HIP develops the Pelvic Muscle Exercise Cassette Tape and Booklet audiovisual program

1986

First HIP membership survey is published, representing the organization’s first nationwide consumer research

Second Dear Abby column mention netted another 50,000 inquiries.

1987

HIP produces an audiovisual (VHS and slide/tape) program designed to educate both the consumer and the practitioner about incontinence

1988

The HIP Industry Council was formed (initiated by Benson Smith of C.R. Bard with Peter Shepard of Mentor Corporation)

HIP participates at a NIH Consensus Development Conference on Urinary Incontinence. HIP Executive Director, Katherine Jeter, presents a paper as a panel member of experts on urinary incontinence in adults

1989

HIP receives its first mention in Ann Landers column (19,000 inquiries)