Your HEALTHmatters

In the event you become too sick or injured to make healthcare decisions for yourself, advance care planning can help make sure those who care for you are aware of your medical wishes. Advance care planning has four key steps:

1. Think about what matters most to you and your future medical care
2. Write down the medical care you want to get if you are unable to tell healthcare providers yourself
3. Choose a medical decision-maker (someone you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf)
4. Discuss and share your choices with your healthcare provider and loved ones

There are two forms you can fill out for advance care planning:

• Advance Directive: a document that includes the medical care choices you want your healthcare provider to follow when you cannot communicate them yourself. You can also choose someone you trust to make decisions about your medical care when you are unable to. HPSM recommends that everyone 18 and older have an Advance Directive. You should review and update your Advance Directive yearly and when you have a major life change (like a change in your health or living situation).
• Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST): a set of medical orders you want your healthcare provider or emergency responders to follow. This form is for those with serious illnesses. When talking to your healthcare provider about your health condition and treatment options, let them know what types of life-saving treatments you do and do not want. Your healthcare provider will fill out the POLST form and sign it. The POLST form makes sure your wishes for specific medical treatment are met.

Even if you are healthy, planning now makes sure you are prepared for the future. To get started with advance care planning, talk to your healthcare provider or call HPSM’s Integrated Care Management (ICM) Team at 650-616-2060.

Looking for a primary care provider (PCP), dentist, specialist, pharmacy, clinic or hospital? Use HPSM’s Provider Directory. It’s easy and you can do it online!

• It’s self-service: find providers on your own anytime using a computer, tablet or smartphone — no waiting!
• Interactive search lets you filter by provider name, specialty, language, location and more
• Weekly updates ensure you always see the most up-to-date provider listings and contact info

Taking care of your health starts with one easy step: scheduling your yearly well visit (also known as a checkup). Even when you feel healthy, a well visit with your primary care provider (PCP) is a good idea. It can help catch health issues early when they’re easier to treat. There’s no cost for the well visit. HPSM covers it 100%, so schedule yours today!

Well visits include talking to your PCP about:

• Screening tests for conditions like diabetes or heart disease so you can get treated as soon as possible.
• Vaccines you may need for protection from diseases like the flu, COVID-19 and more.
• Medicines you are taking to make sure they are safe to use together. You can also learn what each medicine is for and what side effects to watch out for.
• Self-care topics such as eating healthy, staying active and more.
• Referrals to medical or mental health specialists if needed.