Apr 13, 2016 2 min read

Monongahela Valley Hospital will participate in National Healthcare Decisions Day Friday to encourage community members to talk with their loved ones about their wishes regarding health care and complete an advance directive.

Held annually each April since 2008, NHDD exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. This year’s theme is “It Always Seems Too Early, Until It’s Too Late.”

Renee Hurley, director of patient relations, will provide free information and assistance on completing advance directives from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital lobby.

There are several types of advance directives, but the two most commonly used forms are medical power of attorney and a living will.

A health care or medical power of attorney is a trusted person you select to be your voice for your health care decisions if you cannot speak for yourself.

A living will documents the kinds of medical treatments you would or would not want at the end of life, particularly regarding life-prolonging medication or measures if you had an end stage medical condition, were permanently unconscious and couldn’t speak for yourself.

Also, Pennsylvania Orders For Life Sustaining Treatment information also will be available. This is a document that can voluntarily be completed by patients with their health care provider to communicate, as a medical order, their goals for care at the end of life.

The information and assistance in completing the forms will be free. For more information, visit www.nhdd.org or call Hurley at 724-258-1076.