The cross-continuum push for healthcare
decision-making takes on new meaning in the wake of COVID-19 and the intense
pressures on caregivers
In the
wake of the expiring public health emergency and persistent capacity
constraints within healthcare facilities, a coalition of leading organizations
is coming together to promote proactive care decision-making by calling on
patients to designate a healthcare agent and complete a health care proxy document.
This call to action is championed
by advocacy groups from across the continuum of care, including the
Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, Honoring Choices
Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Home Care Alliance of
Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, LeadingAge
Massachusetts, and the Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of
Massachusetts.
The coalition is urging every
patient to designate a healthcare agent, or the person trusted to make care
decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them for yourself. The
importance of proactive decision-making became especially evident during the
COVID-19 pandemic, when thousands of patients across the nation were
incapacitated and in need of representation regarding their care.
Completion of a health care
proxy, the simple form patients can use to assign their agent, can also help
alleviate some of the intense pressures healthcare organizations are now experiencing.
Proxies empower caregivers to work directly with trusted loved ones and
efficiently transition them to other care settings from the moment their
hospital stay is winding down. Hospital
case managers report that when patients lack a healthcare agent, it
prevents them from being discharged and ties up acute-level beds for other
patients in need. Patients do not get the level of care they need, while
hospital wait times and care access for other individuals suffer.
To advance this effort, the coalition
created a Healthcare Decisions Toolkit, through which provider organizations
can share resources and information about healthcare planning that supports
providers, empowers patients, and reduces barriers to receiving emergency and
inpatient care.
“Every adult can take a simple but
powerful step to direct their health care choices” said Ellen DiPaola, president
& CEO of Honoring Choices Massachusetts. “It starts with a simple
conversation to appoint a trusted person to work in partnership with healthcare
providers to provide timely care, if you are not able to speak for
yourself. As trusted messengers within their communities, our coalition
is encouraging every healthcare organization to help spread this message as the
public health emergency comes to an end.”
“Assigning a healthcare agent is
about empowering patients and families to protect their care choices. But it’s
also about supporting our local providers and caregivers who are striving to
keep care accessible,” said MHA Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Patricia
Noga, PhD, RN. “For those wondering what they can do to help support our
hospitals and health systems at this critical time, completing a health care
proxy is something you can do today.”
The coalition is highlighting
three key steps for community members:
1. Choose
someone you trust to be your designated healthcare agent and have a simple
conversation about what’s important to you.
2. Complete
a health care proxy form – you can do it all yourself! (The
form is available in 15 languages.)
3. Have
a simple conversation with your care team about the care that’s right for you.
“Making a decision in your medical
care choices when you cannot speak for yourself is available to all patients 18
years and older”, said Massachusetts Medical Society President Theodore A.
Calianos, II, MD, FACS. “By choosing a health care agent, having a
conversation about what matters to you, and completing a proxy form no matter
your age or health status, you will ease concerns for your family, friends,
physician, and others involved in your care.”
“As long-term care
providers, we are entrusted with caring for vulnerable seniors and individuals
with disabilities for whom a health care proxy is extremely important, said Tara
Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association. “We are committed to supporting the work of
the coalition and our members will continue their efforts to educate residents,
family members and caretakers on the importance of completing a health care proxy so
that each resident’s wishes regarding medical care are honored.”
“The Healthcare Decisions Toolkit
is a wonderful resource to support home health clinicians working to empower
and educate the patient to make proactive decisions about their care”, said Jake
Krilovich, executive director of the Home Care Alliance of MA. “The
clinicians in home health have a wonderful opportunity being in the patient’s
home to engage the family in supporting the patient to designate a healthcare
agent and to help identify and reduce barriers to receiving care.
LeadingAge Massachusetts’
not-for-profit providers of aging services have been working for years to help
educate consumers, family members and staff about the critical importance of
naming a health care agent and talking with them about what matters most,” said
Elissa Sherman, president of LeadingAge Massachusetts. “This
toolkit is another important resource available to help providers with these
essential conversations.”
“Making the time to start a simple conversation to thoughtfully
complete this step-by-step toolkit, assigning an agent, and noting healthcare
preferences will make all the difference when time is of the essence,” said Christine
McMichael, executive director of the Hospice & Palliative Care Federation
of Massachusetts.
The Healthcare Decisions Toolkit includes
an array of valuable tools for hospitals and healthcare systems, including messaging,
informational materials, and graphics. It also includes instructive videos on
how to submit the health care proxy form and how to facilitate conversations
around healthcare decisions.
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CONTACT
Sam Melnick
smelnick@mhalink.org | (781) 262-6091