Presenters: Candace Blades, JD, BSN, RN-BC – VCU Health System Debbie Griffith, RN, CCRN – HCA Virginia Health System October 21, 2015
We are a not for profit organization associated with the Richmond Academy of Medicine. We believe planning for your healthcare future includes planning for the unexpected medical crisis and/or a time when you cannot speak for yourself so that your wishes are honored. We believe most people need assistance in taking this step. We exist to help making that journey possible. Dr. Richard Szucs is our chairman.
How We Honor Your Choices • www.nbcnews.com/video/rock-center/50112401#50112401
Advance Care Planning is: Planning ahead for future health care decisions For example, if a sudden, unexpected event (like a car accident or sudden illness) left you unable to communicate and make your own health care decisions and others had to communicate for you. 4
Advance Care Directive is: • The legal document that provides your instructions to the healthcare team, names your agent, and states under what circumstances you would or would not want life sustaining treatment. • Some people compete the document without fully exploring their experiences, values, goals and preferences internally or with others.
Choose a decision-maker ( health care agent ) A person you trust to carry out your choices about medical care even if the person does not agree with you. A person who can respond in a stressful situation. A person who has accepted your invitation to be your agent and fully understands your goals. Sometimes the best agent is not your next of kin. 6
What Does it mean to Live Well? It’s important to me that I can:
Have You had a full and meaningful conversation with your agent and other people important to your life?
IMAGINE A sudden event (such as a car accident or illness) has left you unable to communicate. You are receiving all the care needed to keep you alive. The doctors believe there is little chance you will recover the ability to know who you are or who you are with. Sudden illness Car accident
What do you understand about this situation? In this situation would you want to continue medical treatment to keep you alive? Or, would you want to stop medical treatment to keep you alive? In either case, you will be kept comfortable. What does living well in this situation mean to you? Reflect, consider, pray. What would you want your agent to do?
No matter what your current state of health is, it is essential that you take steps to safeguard your future: 1. Carefully choose a healthcare agent 2. Identify cultural, religious, spiritual or personal beliefs that might influence treatment decisions – consult with your minister or spiritual advisor 3. Explore your goals of care for a severe, permanent brain injury and a poor cognitive outcome 4. Consider having a conversation with a trained facilitator before finalizing (or revising) your advance care directive 5. Complete an advance directive and give copies to your doctor, the hospital you frequent, your family and any other person important to your life. This is your beginning. It is a living document that needs to be reviewed and revised as your situation changes.
How can Honoring Choices help you? 1. We offer to conduct a private conversation with you where we help you move forward in your thinking about advance care planning; 2. We offer to help you have the discussion with your loved ones; 3. We offer to help you complete an advance directive; 4. We offer to review what documents you already have to make sure your wishes are clear and not ambiguous. 5. We offer to be value neutral – that is, our goal is your goal, whatever that may be.
For more information please contact: Deborah Love 804-564-8386 Or Visit our website at honoringchoicesvirginia@ramdocs.org Honoring Choices Virginia 2821 Emerywood Parkway Richmond, Va. 23294
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