Submitted by Providence Swedish
Life can change quickly, and medical decisions made during a crisis can be stressful for families. Your Voice, Your Choice, Your Care, is more than a message, it’s a reminder that making your wishes known today can bring clarity and comfort to your loved ones tomorrow.
Advance care planning helps ensure your health care preferences are understood and respected if you are ever unable to speak for yourself.
Advance directives are legal documents that outline the types of medical treatment you would want — or not want — in the future. They also allow you to name someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf.
Why Advance Care Planning Matters
Many people assume they will always be able to make their own medical decisions, but that is not always the case. Sudden illness, an accident or the progression of health conditions can leave someone unable to communicate. Without clear guidance, loved ones may struggle to make decisions under pressure.
Advance care planning helps reduce uncertainty and ensures your choices reflect your values and goals. It can also ease the emotional burden on family members, who often feel more confident when they know what their loved one wants.
How to Get Started
You can begin advance care planning at any age or stage of health. Key steps include:
- Talk with your loved ones about the type of care you would want in a medical emergency.
- Discuss your values and treatment preferences with your health care provider.
- Document your wishes by completing an advance directive.
- Share copies of your documents with your family, health care representative and medical team.
- Review and update your plan regularly, especially after major life changes such as a new diagnosis, a death in the family or entering a new decade of life.
Dr. Juliette Erickson, Palliative Care medical director for Providence Swedish South Puget Sound, emphasized the importance of this work, saying that “advance care planning is a gift for your loved ones, allowing for clarity and ensuring your values guide decisions when your voice cannot.”
Learn More
Advance care planning documents and additional resources are available at Advanced Care Planning | Providence
Providence Swedish in South Puget Sound touches more lives in the 540,000 five-county service area of Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties than any other health care provider.
It is made up of:
- Providence St. Peter Hospital, a 394-bed facility founded in 1887.
- Providence Centralia Hospital, a 128-bed facility founded in 1926.
- Providence Medical Group in Southwest Washington, including more than 40 clinics with more than 350 primary, specialty care and hospital-based providers.
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