HEALTAHR TCARE
CREATING YOUR
GREATEST PLAN
By Rafael J. Sciullo
Rafael J. Sciullo
MARCH/APRIL 2018 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 137
As we approach National Health
Care Decisions Day on April 16,
it’s the perfect time to highlight
the importance of documenting
your health care 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 anytime. It is part of life and the
single most important reason why you
should have a plan that makes your health
care wishes known.
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 2014 study in the
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, only
26 percent of Americans have a living will.
Lack of awareness was the main reason
reported for not having one.
Empath Choices for Care helps families
create, communicate and honor important
medical care wishes using a process called
advance care planning. This thoughtful
wishes. The person you choose to carry out
your wishes when you can’t make them
yourself is called a health care surrogate.
By choosing someone to be your health
care surrogate you give your plan a voice.
This individual will be responsible for
carrying out your wishes even if he or
she doesn’t agree with them. Choosing
the person you trust to make your health
care decisions for you when you can’t is
the most important part of creating a plan.
Every adult should have a living will.
You don’t necessarily need one because
you have a terminal illness, you need one
because you have loved ones who want to
carry out your wishes in a way that honors
you. I encourage you to contact us about
how we can help you develop Your Greatest
Plan. Visit EmpathChoicesforCare.org for
more information. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is
president and CEO of Empath Health,
a nonprofit 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.
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 health
care professionals about your wishes.
While this conversation isn’t easy, it’s
invaluable for everyone involved.
Empath Health offers advance care
planning across our integrated network
of care for those facing advanced or chronic
illness. It is crucial that these plans are put
in writing, verbalized and accessible to
physicians and other health care providers
who will be responsible for care, as well
as family members, so they will be clear
about your wishes. To increase public
awareness, we also have experts who go
into the community to educate people
about the process of advance care planning.
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