Frankfort, KY (April 14, 2008) - Frankfort Regional Medical Center and Hospice of the Bluegrass, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making'an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16, 2008 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As participating organizations, Frankfort Regional Medical Center and Hospice are providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Kentucky state laws.
Specifically, on April 16, from 10am to 4:30pm Frankfort Regional and Hospice are welcoming the public throughout the day at the hospital, providing free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms.
'As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,' said Hospice representative Glenna Hughes. 'Fewer families and healthcare 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 address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.'
For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.