* 42% of Americans have had a friend or relative suffer from a terminal illness or coma in the last five years, and for a majority of these people, the issue of withholding life sustaining treatment came up.

* only 29% of Americans have a living will

* less than 50% of the severely or terminally ill patients had an advance directive in their medical record

National Healthcare Decisions Day Set for April 16, 2009

(Centralia/Mt. Vernon IL) – St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, along with other national, state and community organizations, is leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16, 2009 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Illinois state laws. 

Specifically, on April 16, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan is welcoming the public throughout the day, with free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms.  National Healthcare Decisions Day Activities are planned as follows:

• St. Mary’s Hospital, Centralia:  An information table will be available in the front lobby from 9 am – 11 am, and by appointment from noon until 4:30.  Pam Twenhafel from Palliative Care will be there to answer questions and/or assist in the preparation of advanced directives.  Pam is also available by appointment that day, by calling 436-8689
• Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon:  An information table will be available at the mall from 10 am – 5 pm.  Sally Waters from Palliative Care will be available with info on advanced directives, and can help with completion of power of attorney.  Information on Living Wills will also be available.

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Sally Waters, Palliative Care at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan.  “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”

For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.