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VA Cincinnati Medical Center
A member of The VA Health Care System of
Ohio (VISN 10)
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The staff at the Cincinnati VA
Medical Center respects the choices and concerns
you have about your health care. Your doctor and
treatment team are available to explain your treatment
options and listen to your preferences and concerns.
There may come a time when you are unable to decide
or tell us what you want. You have the opportunity
now to make some decisions ahead of time. You can
tell us in writing about the kind of care you would
want if you could not speak for yourself. You do
this through an Advance Directive.
| What is an Advance
Directive? An Advance Directive is
a written document that explains the health
care you want to receive if you cannot or choose
not to make your own decisions. There are two
kinds of Advance Directives: |
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1. |
A Living
Will (also known as health care instructions)
lets you state in advance what kind of
care you would want or not want if there
comes a time when you cannot make these
decisions for yourself. |
| 2. |
A Durable Power
of Attorney for Health Care is used
to appoint a person you trust to make
health care decisions for you when you
cannot or choose not to make your own
decisions. This person is called a proxy
or a health care agent. Who can be my
proxy? It should be someone you trust–a
spouse, parent, adult child, friend,
or other family member. Whoever it is,
you should talk to them about your concerns
and wishes, what kinds of treatments
you would want or not want. You and
your proxy cannot know all of the questions
that might come up in the future, so
you'll want your proxy to know what
you value most in life and how this
reflects on the type of care you would
choose for yourself.
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What
happens if I do not have an Advance Directive?
If you can no longer make decision about your
health care, your doctor will ask your next
of kin, family, and friends what they believe
you would want. These decisions are not easy
to make. They can cause great stress in families
that haven't taken the time to discuss these
matters ahead of time.
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How do I go about
making an Advance Directive? At the
Cincinnati VA Medical Center, the best place
to begin is with one of our social workers.
Just ask to see your team social worker. The
social worker has the experience, knowledge,
compassion, and the forms to help you create
your own Advance Directive. What other help
is available? Our medical center has resources
to help you write your Advance Directive.
These include video programs on VA TV or in
the Patient Education Center on the first
floor. Doctors and nurses can answer your
medical questions. Social Workers are available
for counseling. Chaplains are available for
spiritual concerns. Copies of our medical
center's Advance Directive policy and procedure
are available.
Can my Advance Directive be changed?
Yes, but only by you. You may change or cancel
it at any time. You can do this by simply
telling your doctor, but it is better to write
a new Advance Directive. Be sure to tell your
proxy and others concerned with your health
care. Once you have an Advance Directive…An
Advance Directive is only effective if it
is shared with those who need to know. It
must be part of your medical record. Make
copies for your doctor(s), your proxy, your
own records, and for anyone else concerned
with your health care.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date:
August 21, 2008
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