Thursday, April 16, 2015 marks the 8th Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day. This is a national initiative to encourage adults of all ages to discuss their healthcare decisions and complete advance directives. All across the country, healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities, chaplains, the legal community and many others are participating in a collective effort to educate healthcare workers and the public about the importance of making advanced healthcare decisions and providing tools for these decisions. Making healthcare decisions is often difficult in the best of circumstances; making decisions for others is even more complicated.
Specifically, on April 16, 2o15 the public will be welcome throughout the day at various locations throughout the St. Louis area with free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms. Plese check our calendar page for locations and times. For more information about National Healthcare Decisions Day, please visit nhdd.org.
What is an Advance Directive?
Have you ever wondered what would happen to you if you were seriously injured or had an illness that would make you unable to communicate with medical professionals providing your care? Or what happens if family members were asked to make life-changing decisions for you?
An Advance Healthcare Directive is a document that instructs others about your medical care should you be unable to make decisions on your own. This Directive allows you to appoint someone you trust to legally make healthcare decisions for you or withhold treatment and procedures based on your previously stated wishes.
