Submitted by Providence Health & Services
Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed April 16, 2018 as Healthcare Decisions Day in Washington. The day recognizes the need for and efforts to encourage individuals to discuss and record choices ahead of time regarding future medical treatment — known as advance care planning — and to have those wishes honored.
In honor of Healthcare Decisions Day — and to participate in the national effort spotlighting advance care planning on April 16, National Healthcare Decisions Day — Providence in Southwest Washington has planned the following events:
Advance Care Planning Drop-In Session
- April 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Providence St. Peter Hospital, Executive Conference Room
- April 27, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Providence Centralia Hospital, Chapel Conference Room
Informal opportunity to get resources, discuss advance care planning, and complete advance directive. Make use of free notary services and/or talk with Certified Respecting Choices® First Steps® ACP Facilitators. (Bring your driver’s license or other identification for notary services.)
Advance Care Planning Workshop: “Are You Prepared?”
- April 19, 5-6 p.m., Providence St. Peter Hospital, 200 Rooms
- April 24, 5-6 p.m., Providence Centralia Hospital, Mother Joseph Conference Room
- April 26, 5-6 p.m., Providence St. Peter Hospital, 200 Rooms
One hour workshop helps you:
- Increase understanding of Advance Care Planning and documents
- Consider personal choices for future health care
- Know the characteristics of a good health care agent
- Identify steps to complete or update ACP Documents (specifically Advance Directives)
Sign up at www.provregister.org (sign up not required by requested for planning purposes).
Providence has partnered with Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest (PNW), a joint initiative between the Washington State Hospital Association and the Washington State Medical Association, to inspire conversations about the care people want at the end of life. Honoring Choices PNW’s vision is that everyone will receive care that honors personal values and goals at the end of life.
“Healthcare Decisions Day is an opportunity for us individually and as a community to consider the care we would want if we couldn’t make decisions for ourselves,” said Adams. “At Providence, we are proud to help ensure that our patient’s wishes and decisions are heard and documented”
Key to advance care planning are advance directives, forms that allow individuals to name a person to make medical decisions for them if they cannot; state values, goals and preferences; and select specific treatment options. Completing an advance directive and discussing it with the named decision-maker and loved ones better ensures personal choices can be honored.
For additional information about Honoring Choices PNW, visit www.honoringchoicespnw.org. National efforts around National Healthcare Decisions Day can be found at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.
