Special to IFN
You don’t need a diagnosis to make a decision. Do you have an advance directive?
Advance directive is an umbrella term used to describe how someone wants their healthcare to be carried out when they can’t make their own decisions, according to Allison “Bubba” Simmons, director of Pastoral Care for Iredell Health System.
“You may be confused, intubated, under anesthesia, recovering from an accident — anything that would keep you from making decisions for yourself,” she explained.
Only around one in three Americans have advance directives in place. This can cause unnecessary stress for your loved ones if you experience a medical emergency. Although difficult, it’s important to have these important conversations.
“Too often, I sit with families who say ‘We’ve never talked about this. I have no idea what they would want.’ I always say that you can’t be too young or too healthy to have these conversations because anything can happen,” she added. “It’s a gift to your loved ones.”
Without advance directives in place, healthcare decision making power goes to your next of kin. This means your legal spouse, then your children, and so on.
“Let’s say you’ve been legally separated for decades but never legally divorced. That spouse can still make decisions for you if you haven’t implemented advance directives,” Simmons said.
Types of Healthcare Advance Directives
Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) Form
This form, filled out by your primary care provider, is typically for those who are seriously ill or elderly. This form confirms a person’s choices about emergency treatments like hospital admissions, feeding tubes, breathing machines, infection treatments, and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
This form identifies your healthcare agent. This person can speak with your providers, access your medical records, and make healthcare decisions on your behalf. In North Carolina, you can identify a first, second, and third choice for your agent.
Living Will
A living will identifies your choices for end of life and other serious medical emergencies. This may include your choices about feeding tubes, ventilators, CPR, and organ or tissue donation.
The most current versions of your advance directives are what are followed by healthcare providers anywhere in the United States. It’s a good idea to keep copies of your forms with you and share them with your decision makers. Fortunately, the NC Secretary of State’s website has a place to keep digital downloads of your forms for ease of access.
LEARN MORE
Talk to your family, friends, and healthcare providers about your choices. You and your loved ones will be glad you did. Don’t know where to start? Call 704-873-5661 and ask to speak with the director of pastoral care.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; more than 2,200 employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.