SPEAK UP! Making Sure Your Healthcare Wishes Are Known.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- If you experienced a medical crisis and were unable to make your healthcare wishes known, who would speak for you? National Healthcare Decisions Day, an initiative created to highlight the importance of healthcare decisions, is a collaborative effort between the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and other national, state and community organizations.   

"Everyone, including those who are healthy and in the prime of their life should think about and document their healthcare preferences before a crisis," said J. Donald Schumacher, PsyD, and NHPCO president and CEO. "National Healthcare Decisions Day is a day focused on educating the public about the importance of advance care planning."

In a survey done by Health Affairs, "International Survey of Older Adults Finds Shortcomings in Access, Coordination, and Patient-Centered Care," the United States was rated the highest with regard to having had a conversation about advanced care planning. The survey concluded that 78% of Americans polled had discussed advance care planning and 67% had named a health care proxy. 

"The higher percentage of Americans engaging in advance care planning discussions is promising," says Schumacher. "But we still have work to do to educate and bring awareness to this important issue."

As an organization committed to increasing awareness of advance care planning, NHPCO is providing free information and tools to the public. 

Have a Conversation

Advance care planning starts with talking with loved ones, healthcare providers, and friends. These types of discussions can be difficult for the person initiating the conversation and equally uncomfortable for the person or persons receiving the information. The document "Conversations Before the Crisis" can help guide these conversations. 

"Having these conversations will prevent loved ones from having to guess what you would want if you are ever facing a healthcare or medical crisis," says Schumacher. "The conversation helps create an understanding of what healthcare preferences matter most to you."

Complete an Advance Directive

Advance directives allow you to document your end-of-life wishes in the event that you are terminally ill or critically injured and unable to talk or communicate.  

NHPCO's Caring Connections has free, state-specific advance directive forms and information on advance care planning that can be downloaded from its website www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload. Each state's advance directive is legally reviewed on an annual basis and meets each state's statutory requirements.

"Most people know they should "have the talk," but all-too-often life gets in the way," says NHDD chair and founder, Nathan Kottkamp, JD. "NHDD reminds us that we need to mark our calendars—no more excuses or procrastinating."

For additional information about National Healthcare Decision Day and efforts throughout the country, visit www.nhdd.org.

Contact:
Anita Brikman
Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications
703-837-3154
abrikman@nhpco.org

Video - https://youtu.be/w62NGappaOw 
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SOURCE National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization