Your Health Your Choice Advance Care Planning Service to Citizens
In recognition of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), the Greater Flint Health Coalition, Genesys Health System, Hurley Medical Center, McLaren Flint, and participating partners provided free advance care planning services at local senior centers the week of April 11th-15th.
Locally trained and certified ACP facilitators were available to help individuals with the process of: identifying personal healthcare goals; selecting a patient advocate to speak on their behalf when they are unable to do so; having a conversation to discuss preferences and plan with family members or loved ones; and documenting a plan in an advance directive to share with healthcare providers.
National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. NHDD is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.
Ideally, advance care planning is undertaken when patients are healthy and can speak for themselves. Individuals are encouraged to have conversations with their families and other loved ones to clarify their goals, values, and wishes. This makes it much more likely that in the event a person is unable to communicate, their families and providers will know what medical decisions to make on their behalf.
If Genesee County residents were unable to schedule an appointment at the senior centers, they may schedule a free appointment at any time, at any of the participating hospital locations by going to the website at www.yourhealthyourchoice.org or calling the Greater Flint Health Coalition at (810) 232-2228.