Experts to answer questions about advance healthcare decision-making

LOVELAND, Colo. (March 29, 2010) – To highlight National Healthcare Decisions Day, two experts from McKee Medical Center will provide a presentation and answer questions regarding how to plan in advance for health care decision making.

The National Healthcare Decisions Day talk is Wednesday, April 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the McKee Conference and Wellness Center. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Guests may RSVP by calling (970) 635-4097.

The event features McKee staff members Linda Davidson, manager of Patient and Community Services, and Phoebe Hawley, manager of Senior Services, who will provide information and tools for the public to use when talking about health care wishes with family, friends and health care providers. Included will be information about executing written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Colorado laws. Resources are available at www.bannerhealth.com keyword: Advance Directives.

This event is sponsored by The Seasons Club at McKee Medical Center.

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their health care decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Davidson. “Fewer families and health care 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 honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”

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