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:
- Think about what matters most to you and your future medical care
- Write down the medical care you want to get if you are unable to tell healthcare providers yourself
- Choose a medical decision-maker (someone you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf)
- 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.