Talk With Everyone – Give Copies to Everyone

It is one of the last, yet very vital steps in your advance care planning process. Now that you have made and recorded some choices about your values and preferences for care, it is essential that you talk with your health care Agent, your loved ones, your primary care physician.

Be sure to include any other health professionals involved in your care, such as the health services department in a residential or assisted living community, or skilled nursing facility, your palliative care team and hospice care team directors, and home-health managers.

Don’t wait until you are seriously ill

The conversation you have now and the copies of your Advance Directive will enable all those who care for you to know your values and preferences and to act effectively for you help you when you most need their understanding and care.

Be sure to ask your primary physician to electronically scan your Advance Directive, and any attached addenda or separate power of attorney into you medical records.

Give everyone a list of who has copies of your advance care plan and where you keep your copy. NOTE: A copy of an Advance Directive is as valid as the original.

How to Talk to Your Doctor
The Conversation Project has yet another helpful guide to help you feel comfortable with having this important conversation with your primary care doctor.
Learn More

The Stanford Letter Project
Empowering people to communicate their healthcare wishes with their doctor.
Learn More

If You Travel – Take It With You

Every time you travel: take your Advance Care Planning Organizer or at least a copy of your Advance Directive including any attached Addendum (and your POLST form if you have prepared one).

Will another state honor the choices in my Advance Directive ?

Many states within the USA will recognize your Advance Directive as valid, some may not. Recognizing and honoring Advance Directives is an evolving part of end of life practice within medical communities and physician practices. Having your Advance Directive and any other medical forms with you will go a long way toward clear communication of your wishes with any health professional in any location. If you have given a copy of your Advance Directive to your primary care physician and discussed your preferences for end of life care with her or him, it will help them to convey the sincerity of your choices in a consultation with and out of state care provider or facility.

Medical Information

If you have a serious health condition or chronic illness , create typed lists of: all your medications, include dosage, and times you take them; allergy information; your surgical history. In other words, all the things you have to provide anytime you see a new doctor.

Personal Contacts List

Create a list of people to contact (name, land line and mobile hone numbers. First – list the contact information for your Agent. Next, list other loved ones who need to be contacted if you become ill.

Medical Contact List

Create a list of medical contact information (name, specialty, phone and fax number) for all the physicians and/or specialists who are involved in your care.

Update these lists at least once a year.

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