Making Your Wishes Known
If you became seriously ill, would your loved ones know what matters most to you? Advance Care Planning (ACP) focuses on making decisions about the care you would want if you were unable to speak for yourself.
End-of-life conversations can be difficult, but it’s important to discuss your wishes with loved ones before a crisis occurs.
Advance Directives
All patients over the age of 18 are encouraged to have an Advance Directive (AD), which includes:
- Health Care Directive (HCD) – This document specifies whether you want life-sustaining treatments in certain situations.
- Power of Attorney (POA) – This document designates a health care agent to make medical decisions for you.
Advance Directives should be updated regularly, especially after changes to your health status or changes to your support system.
POLST Forms
Patients with a serious or advanced illness are encouraged to complete a Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, if appropriate. This document is used to communicate medical care decisions to healthcare providers and emergency responders.
Getting Started
At NOHN, we can help guide you through the Advance Care Planning process. To get started, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) or either of our nurse care managers:
The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is also a great resource for additional information.