National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16

Yale New Haven Health will observe National Healthcare Decisions Day on Tuesday, April 16, to raise awareness, educate and empower healthcare providers and the public about advance care planning.

“Advance care planning allows you to prepare for whatever life may bring. It tells others about the care you would like to receive should you become seriously ill,” said Leo Cooney, MD, Humana Foundation Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, and a physician at YNHH’s Adler Geriatric Assessment Center. “You should appoint a healthcare representative to speak for you if you cannot express your wishes. You should ensure that this representative, and your family and physicians, know how aggressively you wish to be treated should you become very ill. An advance care document is an excellent way of assuring that physicians in all sites of care know the intensity of care you would like to receive.”

At YNHH, information tables will be available 8 am - 4 pm at the East Pavilion Cafeteria entrance, York Street Campus, and All Spice Café, Saint Raphael Campus.

Representatives from various departments will discuss the benefits of making wishes known in advance. Handouts will include YNHHS advance directives brochures and legal forms. Staff will be available to answer questions and help provide direction on the information one might wish to share with providers. Employees may also visit the hospital website for documents and links to additional sources. For more information, contact Via Abolencia, [email protected], 203-680-1886.