BY CANDACE SAVAGE, MMS SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH OUTREACH MANAGER
April is National Health Care Decisions Month, with April 16 designated as National Health Care Decisions Day (NHDD). Established
in 2008 by health law attorney Nathan Kottcamp, NHDD educates and empowers health care professionals and patients to discuss and document their care preferences and designate a health care agent. It also serves as a reminder to review and update existing health care proxies as needed.
For the past several years, the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) has partnered with Honoring Choices Massachusetts and other key organizations, including the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Senior Care Alliance, LeadingAge Massachusetts, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts, and Mass Home Care in the Simple Step Campaign. This initiative encourages all Commonwealth residents aged 18 and older to designate a health care agent and complete a health care proxy.
Recognizing the critical role of advance care planning, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently encouraged hospital leadership and staff to actively encourage patients to take these steps. By naming a health care agent and completing a proxy document, patients ensure that their wishes are honored and that timely care transitions can occur should they become unable to advocate for themselves. This not only supports patient-centered care but also helps alleviate capacity constraints within the health care system.
The MMS provides information and a free, downloadable health care proxy document along with discussion questions. This Health Care Proxy document, provided free of charge, presents a clear explanation of the responsibilities of a health care agent and simple directions on how to fill out and sign the form. There are also instructions on how to revoke or cancel the document later, if necessary. Further information for health care professionals, including an FAQ, can be obtained at Massachusetts Health Decisions.
The Society offers a two-hour online education course, Mastering Compassionate Conversations: Essential Skills for End-of-Life Care, which provides information and examples for physicians to hold
serious illness conversations and navigate advance care planning with patients and their loved ones. The course addresses ethical
issues that may come up along the serious illness trajectory and highlights Ariadne Labs’ Serious Illness Conversation Guide.
To assist your patients further, the MMS and its Committee on
Geriatric Medicine offer a brochure, Planning Ahead: What Are Your Choices?, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Information includes resources and education for patients across the lifespan and various stages of health or advancing illness. The brochure also highlights how palliative care differs from hospice. This valuable resource
empowers patients and their families to make informed decisions about their care, ensuring they receive the support and guidance they need at every stage of life.
