Hanover Hospital Offers Advance Directive Assistance on "National Healthcare Decisions Day - April 16"

Hanover Hospital is proud to participate in the first-ever “National Healthcare Decisions Day” on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., providing friendly and helpful information about advance directives, in the hospital’s main lobby.  The event is sponsored by the hospital’s Ethics Committee.

Members of the hospital’s Case Management, Ethics Committee, and Quality Improvement departments will be on hand on April 16th to answer questions and provide educational materials about advanced directives, which help in the planning process when you are too ill to make your own choices.  By stating your wishes in advance, you can have a voice in your care when you cannot speak for yourself.  You can also choose who may speak for you.

“National Healthcare Decisions Day” is being spearheaded by the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Bar Association, and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and others, and according to the Hospital & HealthSystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), is an outgrowth of a successful two-year old statewide effort in Virginia. 

It is estimated that only about 15 percent of people have executed an advanced directive, and less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advanced directive   

in their medical records.  A reason for this low number is that there is considerable confusion in the public about advance directives.  People are also reluctant to talk about health care planning when they are and believe that severe illness or a catastrophic injury will never happen to them.                                                                           

Your advance health care directive can help guide your family and friends when you have a serious medical problem.  By sharing your treatment wishes in a written document, you spare them from having to make tough decisions without knowing what you would want.  Any adult (18 years of age or older) of sound mind may make an advance health care directive.

There are two main types of directives:  a Living Will, in which you write your specific wishes about life support and other medical treatments should you become medically incompetent or permanently unconscious; and a Health Care Power of Attorney, in which you name a person who you trust to make health care choices for you.  You may also make a combined directive.

Mary Flinner, ACSW, LSW, Director of Case Management Services, is co-chair of the hospital’s Ethics Committee along with Marc Hirsh, M.D.  Flinner states, “Hanover Hospital is very pleased to participate in this national event.  This will be an ideal opportunity for the public to meet with our staff, who can answer questions and offer guidance in this area.”

More information on advance health care directives, including sample forms, additional questions and answers and other resources can be found at:  www.myfamilywellness.org, or:  www.careforpa.org.