National Healthcare Decisions Day Set for April 16, 2008

April 16, 2008 will be the inaugural National Healthcare Decisions Day. On this day, throughout the country, healthcare providers, professionals, chaplains, attorneys, and others will participate in a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making. To facilitate this process, initiative organizers will provide clear, concise, and consistent information and tools for the public to execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and/or living will) in accordance with their applicable state laws.These resources will be available online at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

Although several states have engaged in advance directives awareness events and numerous organizations have devoted substantial time and money to improving education about advance healthcare planning, only a small minority of Americans have executed an advance directive. National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) seeks to address this issue by focusing attention on advance healthcare planning from a variety of directions simultaneously.

The Seattle-King County Aging & Disability Advisory Council is pleased to offer more information about advance healthcare planning, as well as a free online video to watch with your family, and a sample healthcare planning form you may download and complete. Go to the next article, "Advance Directives: When You Are Unable to Make Your Own Decisions" to access these resources!

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more Americans can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Nathan A. Kottkamp, chair of the National Healthcare Decision Day initiative. “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient; and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”

Click here to see a list of national organizations that have already committed to participating in this event by encouraging their members and chapters to engage in various education initiatives on National Healthcare Decisions Day.

Coordinators are being recruited to develop networks in each state to encourage and support local activities and outreach. Organizations and coalitions interesting in participating are encouraged to register at the NHDD Web site.  

Visit the NHDD website for more information on this initiative, e-mail nhdd@nhpco.org, or call 800/658-8898.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is providing administrative and communications support for the NHDD initiative.