Within our Walls: Do you have an advance directive for health care?

Do you know what an advance directive is? An advance directive is a legal document that provides instructions for medical care and only goes into effect if you are unable to communicate your own wishes. An advance directive helps you plan for situations that cannot be foreseen, such as a serious car accident or a stroke. The most common types of advance directives are a living will and durable power of attorney for health care.

A living will informs medical providers how you want to be treated if you cannot make that decision on your own. It will list the common medical treatments or care you want, which ones you do not want, and under what conditions each choice applies.

A durable power of attorney for health care names a health care proxy. This is someone you have chosen to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate those decisions on your own. It is important that your health care proxy is familiar with your values and wishes regarding health care.

At CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington, we value our customers, and strive to meet all our customer’s needs. We recognize that every individual has the right and responsibility to make decisions regarding their own health care, including decisions to have health care provided, withheld or withdrawn. Upon admission to our emergency room, inpatient services or outpatient services you will be asked if you have an advanced health care directive. If you have already created one, we will ask you to bring a copy to be placed in your medical record. If you do not have one, staff would be happy to assist you with the process of completing one. The staff at CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington will honor your health care directive to the extent it is consistent with the law, and with you and/or your agent’s wishes. Should there be a conflict with your directive morally or otherwise, your provider will inform you of the conflict, and every effort will be made to transfer your care to a provider willing to follow your directive.

Now is the time to take action to make sure your health care wishes are heard. Complete an advance health care directive to assist your loved ones, and medical personnel in providing the care you want when you are unable to make that decision. Don’t wait until it is too late, plan now for your health care needs.