Thursday, April 03, 2008

Learn about healthcare choices, advance directives

During April, Riverwood Healthcare Center, along with other national, state and community organizations, is highlighting the importance of having an Advance Healthcare Directive. To promote advance healthcare decision-making, April 16th has been designated as National Healthcare Decisions Day.

“As a part of National Healthcare Decisions Day, we encourage more people in our community to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” says Dr. Mark Heggem, Riverwood Healthcare Center Medical Director. “If you act today, fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient. Our 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.”

As a participating organization, Riverwood is sponsoring several information sessions on Advance Healthcare Directives and why they are important for healthcare decision-making in Aitkin, Garrison and McGregor. The sessions will be offered on April 15, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Riverwood Garrison Clinic; April 22, 1:00 p.m. at Riverwood McGregor Clinic; and April 28 and May 5, 1:00 p.m, at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin.

At these sessions, you will learn how to talk about your wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and how to execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Minnesota state laws. Copies of the Minnesota Healthcare Directive form will be available.
“Whether you are young or old, documenting your healthcare wishes today means that your family members will know how to make decisions for you in the event the need arises in the future,” explains Val Thompson, Riverwood social worker. “We encourage everyone to talk with their doctor and family to decide what is right for you, and then put it in writing.”

For any questions about these information sessions, call Riverwood Social Services at (218) 927-5524. For more information about advance healthcare directives, go to www.putitinwriting.org or www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.