As major life events such as weddings, graduations, and moving can be overwhelming, it’s equally important to have a plan in place for your health decisions. Medical emergencies like car accidents and sudden illness can leave you unable to communicate your wishes. National Healthcare Decisions Day, observed on April 16, serves as a reminder of the importance of advanced care planning.
UW Health encourages patients to select a trusted individual to be their health care advocate or power of attorney for health care in case they are unable to make decisions themselves. Creating an advance directive, a legal document that outlines your preferences and allows you to have a say in your future health care, is also recommended.
According to UW Health, over 5,000 individuals have benefited from the expanded advance care planning services offered in the past two years. This process can be completed in as little as 10 minutes and helps individuals feel empowered and secure about their health care decisions. Dr. Mark Micek, UW Health’s medical director of population health, emphasizes the importance of openly discussing your goals and values with your healthcare provider and loved ones as no one knows what the future holds.
UW Health offers free webinars to guide individuals through the steps of completing a power of attorney document. These webinars are open to the public regardless of whether they are patients at UW Health. Residents of Illinois and Wisconsin can access and download health forms from the UW Health website to begin their advance care planning process.
