NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY – April 16
Sun Apr 16th

National Healthcare Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day educates and encourages the public and healthcare providers to participate in vital advance care planning..

In the absence of an advanced directive, medical staff must rely on family members to determine what a patient's wishes are. Family members are also struggling to make these difficult decisions. With advanced planning, however, many of these difficult decisions can be avoided.

The observance highlights the importance of advance directives, and national, state, and community groups banded together in a joint effort to support the day. These organisations are collaborating to ensure that health care decisions are documented with the correct information, opportunity, and access that are required to support health care decisions.

Although advance care planning sounds like a difficult topic, family members are left wondering how to make the decision for you. Completing an advanced directive relieves the burden from our loved ones. It also allows us to have more pleasant conversations in the future..

How to track #healthcaredecisionsday on a day that #healthcaredecisionsday is being reported

  • Plan ahead for your critical healthcare decisions
  • Obtain the papers you need right now, complete them, and place them where they are easily accessible
  • With your loved ones, you can discuss your decisions
  • In the case you have a medical emergency, let them know where your papers are in the event they are located
  • Also, other family members should complete an advance directive.
  • Do not place the burden of these decisions on your loved ones
  • On social media, use #HealthcareDecisionsDay to post

History of national healthcare decisions day in the United States has a long tradition.

McGuireWoods LLP's Nathan Kottkamp founded National Healthcare Decisions Day to help inform the general public about advance directives. Visit The Conversation Project to learn more. To learn more, visit The Conversation Project.

Ecision faq healthcare decision faq

Q. Where can I get an advance directive?

A. There are several options for obtaining an advance directive.

  • Healthcare provider
  • Attorney or state bar association An attorney or state bar association is a member of an attorney or state bar association
  • Health department
  • lity for the elderly

Q. Is "Do not resuscite" or a DNR the same as an advance directive?

A. No. A. No. A. No. However, a DNR can be included in a forward order.