Advance Care Planning FAQs

Completing an Advance Directive (AD) is voluntary, written an Advance Directive is recommended for everyone 18 years of age and older regardless of their current health status. An Advance Directive is the best possible way to be sure that decisions regarding your future medical care will reflect your own wishes if you are unable to speak for yourself. Putting your wishes in writing also helps avoid confusion or conflict in times of crisis or uncertainty.

An Advance Directive is a legal document which can direct the care of the medical team in medical situations. It reflects your wishes regarding medical care in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. Advance Directives can include both a Living Will, or Heath Care Directive, and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAH). The DPOAH allows you to choose someone you trust as your healthcare agent/representative. This is the person/s you choose to speak for you if you can’t speak for yourself.

A Portable Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is an out of hospital medical order that guides emergency medical professionals.  This portable medical order allows patients who are seriously ill or frail to choose to limit emergency medical intervention that could do more harm than good.  A POLST does not replace an Advance Directive. They work together. 

A completed and signed POLST form is required if you do not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outside of the hospital. This form should be posted in a visible place in your home, often on the refrigerator, near your phone or at the bedside of a person who is mostly bedbound. 

Advance Directives in many states can be either witnessed or notarized. It’s important that you read your advance directive to identify any restrictions on who can witness the document. If you are unable to find two people to witness the document, you can have it notarized instead. Please feel free to contact our team regarding questions.

In a medical emergency the people who are providing your care do not know you. They do not know your history, your goals or wishes for care. Having a trusted and strong healthcare agent who can speak on your behalf is invaluable. They can advocate for you and help make difficult decisions based on the conversations you have had with them before an event occurs.

If you are unable to make medical decisions, this person speaks to your healthcare team on your behalf.  Your healthcare agent does not have to be a family member, spouse, or partner. In some cases, it may be better to ask a person who you trust will honor your wishes rather than a family member. Choosing someone who is not a family member, spouse, or partner may also relieve your loved one of a responsibility he or she may be emotionally unable to assume.

Choose someone:

• Who listens closely to your concerns and hopes regarding serious illness and end of life.
• When needed, will articulate your wishes to other family members and those treating you.
• Who will stay levelheaded and respect your wishes.
• Who is willing to take on these responsibilities. 

If you cannot make medical decisions for yourself and do not choose a health care agent, your doctors will follow state law to find a decision maker for you. State law authorizes the following people, in order of priority, to make health care decisions for you.

State Hierarchies

• Alaska
• Oregon
• Washington

All 50 states (and the District of Columbia) generally recognize the use of advance directives. When you travel, you should bring copies of your health care documents to make them easily accessible if an accident or unexpected illness occurs. The most legally binding part of your advance care plan is who you choose as a health care agent/representative. If you have a POLST form you should carry a copy with you so that it can be easily accessed in an emergency. 

Yes, these are your wishes. We suggest you consider the important role that culture, beliefs and values play in determining what you would want for end-of-life care and be sure to include this in your conversations and in your document. If English is not your primary language, please ask your healthcare provider if there are documents in your native language or to provide an interpreter to assist you in understanding and completing your advance directive. 

There is no requirement that an attorney assist you in preparing your Advance Directives. If you have had a Living Will written up by an attorney, it is strongly encouraged that you review this document and be sure it is clear and that your wishes can be easily understood.

We recommend you review and update your advance directive at least every 10 years, or if one of the “five D’s” occurs: Diagnosis, Decline, Divorce, Decade, Death of a Healthcare Agent. You can change your mind at any time and update or revoke your Advance Directive by completing a new Advance Directive.

Yes, you can. The advance directives for AK, OR and WA do not have a specific place for this information, but it you can write this in the spaces provided for you to write in additional info. Also be sure your donor wishes are reflected on your driver's license and up to date at these registries: LifeCenter Northwest (for AK and WA) and Donate Life Northwest (for OR).

Make several copies of your completed Advance Directive form. Be sure your health care agent/s have a copy and understand your wishes. Give a copy to your health care team. Be sure to put a copy of your Advance Directive on file at your local Hospital.  

Send a copy to file with PeaceHealth Medical records by send to:

Attention: Health Information Management
1115 SE 164^th Avenue, Dept. 336
Vancouver, WA 98683
FAX: 360-729-3444
SCAN and EMAIL: RSSYS-PeaceHealthACP@PeaceHealth.org