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Advanced Care Planning
Life-threatening illness or injury can happen at any time. Does your family and/or friends know your health care wishes should an emergency situation occur? Have you made your primary care physician aware of the treatments you do or do not want? Have you asked someone to speak for you? Have you documented your wishes?
If you have answered "no" to any of these questions, it's time to visit the NC Dept. of the Secretary of State Advance Health Care Directive Registry. This comprehensive website provides excellent information on Advance Care Planning and Directives. The site also provides forms you will need to legally document your wishes.
 Thorough Advanced Care Planning requires three basic elements. First, spend time thinking about what you want should you not be able to speak for yourself. The more time you spend prioritizing your wishes, the easier time you'll have communicating your wishes to your loved ones. Second, after receiving a commitment from a trusted friend or family member to act on your behalf in an emergency situation, talk to them in detail about your wishes. Do not rush the conversation. The more detail you cover, the clearer your wishes will be should an emergency occur. Finally, you must document and notorize your wishes and be sure to distribute copies to all parties involved.
In addition to the Secretary of State's website, another informative website to visit for a comprehensive look at Advance Care Planning is The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. This site provides additional information and website links that will be helpful to you when planning your advanced care directives.
Don't wait for a medical emergency to arise for either you or your loved ones to make wishes known!
- 3HC -
2402 Wayne Memorial Drive
Goldsboro, NC 27534
919-735-1387
info@3hc.org
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