Floyd Medical Center, is helping lead a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).

“National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to serve as a reminder to all of us about the importance of advance care planning,” says Tim Adams, Palliative Care Nursing Director at Floyd Medical Center.  “These are issues we don’t like to think about, but we have to if we want to make sure our wishes are known and honored.”

Floyd is providing information and tools that will help people talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives in accordance with Georgia state law

“Advance Directives cover all aspects of the decision making process,” says Joy Jones, Director of Heyman HospiceCare.  “This includes identifying the person who will make health care decisions for a patient, as well as what that patient’s treatment preferences will be.  It’s an invaluable tool.”

On April 16, from 10 am until 3 pm, health care professionals will be available at Heyman HospiceCare to provide free information about advance care planning and to offer assistance in completing advance planning forms.

Adams draws from personal experience when describing the peace of mind gained by having a plan in place.

“I had an uncle who experienced a prolonged illness that would have required some tough decisions to be made by my aunt.  Thankfully he had the foresight to prepare an advance directive, keeping her from having to shoulder an added burden in an already difficult situation.”  Adams continues, “I was able to see first hand how important and compassionate it is to plan ahead.”

Heyman HospiceCare is located at the Floyd Corporate Support Center, 420 E. 2^nd Ave., in Rome.

The Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care is also available online at www.floyd.org.