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Healthcare Decisions Day provides an opportunity to consider your care choices

Healthcare Decisions Day provides an opportunity to consider your care choices
Throughout central Illinois, cities are recognizing April 16 as Healthcare Decisions Day. This day encourages the public to consider their care preferences and understand how to document their wishes.

A 2019 research report found that of those surveyed on what advance care plans they have in place, less than 20 percent had even spoken to their doctor about their wishes.

“Advance care planning helps people take charge of their healthcare by thinking about their care choices and choosing what works best for them” said McKayla Weis, Program Coordinator, Advance Care Planning. “Care often involves choices that impact your life and well-being in critical ways. This planning ensures that patients remain in control, even when they may not be able to speak for themselves and need someone they trust to do this for them.”

Healthcare Decisions Day provides an opportunity to learn about the resources available to help make these types of choices.

At city council meetings earlier this month, Bloomington, Eureka, Olney, and Hoopeston city officials recognized and declared the importance of the day by way of proclamation readings. Their residents can use the day to seek assistance and research their options. The mayors of Danville and Normal also signed proclamations recognizing the day within their communities.

Carle’s advance care planning team joined with Christie Clinic and Promise Healthcare to promote the importance of the day in Champaign. A proclamation was also read by the mayor of Champaign at a city council meeting earlier this month.

Carle Health serves each of these communities’ advance care planning needs.

People should think about what care choices are best for them and what traits they’d like their trusted healthcare power of attorney to have. This chosen person should be willing to discuss decisions you’ve made and be able to carry out your choices. These choices are best communicated in an advance directive.

Healthcare Decisions Day provides a starting point to begin considering what matters to you and who you trust to carry out your wishes. Carle Health supports community members to take charge of their care by providing resources for them to get help with these decisions and add these directives to their medical records.

Carle's ACP team can help patients make informed decisions about future care needs with sessions through the advance care planning program. This is a free program for all patients. Carle Health also offers virtual events with information on the advance care planning process.

This Healthcare Decisions Day, take time to consider these important decisions and use the resources available to help you take control of your future care.

For more information about advance care planning resources, visit Carle.org.

Categories: Community

Tags: Advance, Attorney, Care, Choices, Decisions, Living, of, Planning, Power, Will