Your Greatest Plan:
Know Your Options – Plan Well
AS WE APPROACH NATIONAL
Healthcare Decisions Day on
April 16th, it’s the perfect time to
reinforce the importance of documenting
your healthcare wishes in advance so
your loved ones and caregivers can honor
your instructions in case you become
incapacitated. For anyone at any age, a
health emergency or sudden illness can
happen any time. It is part of life and
the single most important reason why
you should have a plan that makes your
healthcare wishes known.
Empath Choices for Care helps families
create, communicate and honor important
medical care wishes using a process called
advance care planning. This thoughtful
planning involves learning about your
options, deciding what works best for
you and choosing a decision maker
who will speak for you when you are
unable. The most important part of this
process is talking with your loved ones
and healthcare professionals about your
wishes. While this conversation isn’t easy,
it’s invaluable for everyone involved.
The best way to document your wishes
is to write them down in a living will. A
living will is a statement about the kind of
medical treatment you do or do not want
to receive. It can only be used if you are no
longer able to speak for yourself, and it can
be revised any time your wishes change.
According to a 2013 FindLaw survey, only
she doesn’t agree with them. Choosing the
person you trust to make your healthcare
decisions for you when you can’t is the
most important part of creating a plan.
It is my hope that you will help boost
the percentage of Americans who have
their wishes known and documented in
advance. On April 15th from 9:00 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m., Empath Choices for Care
is hosting “Your Greatest Plan 2016,” a
community planning workshop where you
can learn how to navigate the end-of-life
healthcare and personal finance mazes
and how planning ahead can provide
you and those you love the gift of peace
of mind. Topics will include: financial
planning for the end of life; the importance
of choosing a healthcare surrogate; estate
planning; and hospice care and when
hospice is appropriate. I encourage you
to join us then, or contact us about how
we can help you develop Your Greatest
Plan. Visit EmpathChoicesforCare.org for
more information.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is president
and CEO of Empath Health, an integrated
network of care for those affected by chronic
or advanced illness. For more information
about services, call (727) 467-7423 or visit
EmpathHealth.org.
H E A L T H C A R E
By Rafael J. Sciullo
Rafael J. Sciullo
36% of Americans have a living will.
Empath Health offers advance care
planning as part of our care to those facing
advanced or chronic illness across our
integrated network of care. It is crucial
that these plans are put in writing,
verbalized and accessible to physicians
and other healthcare providers who will
be responsible for care, as well as to family
members so they will be clear about wishes.
When you have a plan and talk to
your loved ones about it, you spare them
unnecessary stress and give them peace of
mind in knowing they are following your
wishes. The person you choose to carry
out your wishes when you can’t make them
yourself is called a healthcare surrogate. By
choosing someone to be your healthcare
surrogate you give your plan a voice.
This individual will be responsible for
carrying out your wishes, even if he or
MARCH/APRIL 2016 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 121