Munson Healthcare, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance care planning in recognition of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day.
As a participating organization, Munson Healthcare is offering free advance care planning workshops throughout the month of April with information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and completing advance directives (healthcare power of attorney or patient advocate designation) in accordance with Michigan state laws.
“While making healthcare decisions is often difficult in the best of circumstances, making decisions for others is even more complicated. Disease progression, unexpected illness or sudden injury can be very hard on families when there is no communication or documentation of one’s wishes,” said Stephanie Van Slyke, senior coordinator of Advance Care Planning and Ethics for Munson Medical Center.
Advance Care Planning gives people the ability to document the types of healthcare they want, or do not want, and to designate someone they trust to carry out their treatment decisions should they become unable to do so.
“The COVID-19 pandemic really brought to light the importance of ensuring medical wishes are known and documented,” Van Slyke said. “Unfortunately, families were faced with very tough decisions because many patients had not made their wishes known.”
Workshops include step-by-step instructions for advance care planning needs, information about the importance of talking with loved ones and a page-by-page walk through of the Making Choices Michigan Advance Directive that Munson Healthcare provides so people know how to put their wishes in writing.
Upcoming free workshops include:
- Wed., April 6, 12 – 1:30 pm, Virtual via Zoom
- Thurs., April 7, 5:30 – 7 pm, Virtual via Zoom
- Mon., April 11, 10 – 11:30 am, Cadillac Public Library, 411 S. Lake St.
- Tues., April 12, 4:30 – 6 pm Virtual via Zoom
- Tues., April 19, 2 – 3:30 pm, Medilodge of Grand Traverse County, 2950 Lafranier Rd., Traverse City
- Mon., April 25, 9 – 10:30 am, Virtual via Zoom
Visit munsonhealthcare.org/acp-events to register.