National Healthcare Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare through conversations and the completion of advance directives. Over 70 national organizations and 350 state and local organizations have planned activities designed to increase contemplation and completion of healthcare advance directives.

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality www.ahrq.gov in a 2003 article, "Advance Care Planning: Preferences for Care at the End of Life," found the following:

1. The number of Americans with advance directives, like living wills and healthcare proxies, has increased from 17% in 1990 to 29% now.

2. Less than 50% of severely ill patients have advance directives as part of their medical record.

3. 67% to 76% of physicians whose patients had advance directives were not aware they existed.

Do you have an advance directive? Do you know if your loved ones have advance directives? Do you know how to start the conversation? Use April 16, 2009 as a day to highlight the critical importance of having someone you trust in place to act on your behalf should the unthinkable occur and you are not able to speak for yourself. We can always hope for the best, but prepare for the worst!

For education and advance directive forms see the folowing resources:

1. www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org

2. Oklahoma Palliative Care Resource Center http://okpalliative.nursing.ouhsc.edu/

3. For a copy of the Oklahoma Advance Directive see www.oklahomaseniorlaw.org and follow the resource link to the booklet "Your Right to Decide."