To the editor:
Every April, the healthcare industry recognizes National Healthcare Decisions Day and the importance that this day signifies. This day provides us with the opportunity to highlight the importance of advance care planning and the empowerment of patients to make their care wishes known—but what does this all mean?
Advance care planning translates to determining and solidifying your care preferences in advance of unforeseen circumstances, including accidents, illnesses, and diagnoses. This includes completing a living will, which expresses healthcare preferences and appoints a healthcare power of attorney (someone you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf). Once these are determined, it is important to then have conversations with your trusted loved ones to ensure they understand and honor your expressed wishes.
National Healthcare Decision Day empowers people to take control of their healthcare journey and make decisions that align with their values and beliefs.
While this all may sound daunting, resources are available. You can talk with your primary care or specialty physician; a hospitalist if you are an inpatient; or case managers, nurses, chaplains, or medical interpreters.
It is important to note that advance directive laws vary from state to state. If you have recently moved or plan to move states, it is paramount that you educate yourself on the rules that apply to you as a patient to comply with your state’s laws.
An advance directive is one of the most important documents that you will ever create. Not only does it dictate your desired quality of life and inform your healthcare team during varying situations; it clarifies your wishes and relieves your family and loved ones of the burden of tough decisions during moments that are already stressful. Even if you are healthy today, an advance directive provides needed clarity if an unanticipated health emergency arises.
This National Healthcare Decisions Day, educate yourself on your advance directive options, determine your preferences, then document and share those preferences with your loved ones. This is a simple step that you can take to give yourself a voice in your care decisions in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself.
Roberta Gale, R.N.
Vice President of Community Health at Berkshire Health Systems
Cheshire
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