Advance Directives

At any age, a medical crisis could leave someone too ill to make his or her own healthcare decisions. Making a clear healthcare plan for the future is an important step toward ensuring the medical care you would want, even when doctors and family members are making the decisions for you.

Completing an Advance Directive (Health Care Proxy)

Advance Care Planning involves learning about the types of decisions that might need to be made, considering those decisions ahead of time, and letting others know about your preferences, often by putting them into a document known as an advance directive.

An advance directive:

• Is a simple legal document that goes into effect only if you are incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself.
   
• Can be used in the event of disease or severe injury for an adult of any age, 18 years and older, to help others know the type of medical care desired.
   
• Allows you to appoint your Healthcare Agent, someone you know and trust to make decisions about your medical care when you are unable to communicate. Your agent cannot act for you until your doctor determines, in writing, that you lack the ability to make health care decisions. It will be important to discuss your wishes and values regarding medical treatments and end-of-life care, including life-sustaining measures, with the person you intend to be your Healthcare Agent, as that person will be expected to follow your directives in making decisions on your behalf. If your agent does not have this information, your agent is to make decisions based on his or her assessment of your best interest. Information about who can serve as a Healthcare Agent.
   
• Is a living document that you can adjust as your situation changes because of new information or a change in your health.

Where can I obtain a Health Care Proxy?

• At your physician's office
• At Van Wert Health - Hospital, available during the admissions process, or through a nurse, a Patient Representative or Case manager.
• Click here for a neat form

Things to consider

You may wish to discuss medical treatment options with your physician prior to completing a Health Care Proxy.
A copy of your Health Care Proxy will be filed in your Van Wert Health Medical Record. Your physician, your agent and a family member should also have a copy of your Health Care Proxy.
Ohio’s law does not require that you have a Health Care Proxy. Completing one will assure you and our hospital staff that you will receive medical treatment in accordance with your wishes. Medical care is not conditioned, nor will any discrimination occur, based on whether you have a Health Care Proxy.