Advance Care Planning

What if you suddenly become ill, or are in an accident, and unable to make healthcare decisions for yourself?

Do you know who would make these decisions for you?

Do they know what medical interventions you would want or not want?

What is advance care planning?

Advance care planning is taking steps to share your personal goals, values, religious, cultural beliefs and what matters for your quality of life.

You will discuss it with your health care provider and loved ones so that in the event of a medical crisis, either unexpected or from a known serious illness or advanced frailty, health care professionals have information they can use to match the type of treatment they may provide to you with what you want to receive.

Advance care planning helps you:

• Reflect on your values
• Choose a healthcare agent
• Explore goals for treatment

Advance Care Planning Documents

A Health Care Directive (also known as a Living Will or Directive to Physicians) and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care can help convey your wishes for future medical care including non-treatment. You may choose to use both.

If you travel, you may want to take copies of your documents with you, as other states may honor these forms.

If you have a serious health condition, you need to make decisions about life-sustaining treatment. The POLST form can be used to represent your wishes as clear and specific medical orders. Your physician may use the POLST form to write orders that indicate what types of life-sustaining treatment you want or do not want at the end of life.

For More Information

If you have questions, you can email the Advance Care Planning team.