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Healthcare Proxy and Advance Directive Information To be Provided at Montefiore Sites throughout the Bronx
New York City, NY - (April 14, 2008) - All adults can benefit from thinking about what their healthcare choices would be if they are someday unable to speak for themselves. The first-ever National Healthcare Decisions Day, taking place on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 will provide Americans with the tools to learn about and determine how to make advance healthcare decisions, including designating a healthcare proxy to speak on their behalf.
Discussing healthcare decision-making is not exclusively an end-of-life issue. In fact, adults who discuss, document and share their healthcare preferences with loved ones before they become seriously ill or impaired are helping assure that their treatment choices will be honored, whether they are going into the hospital for routine surgery or are facing a life-threatening condition.
"The goal of this initiative is to encourage the discussion of healthcare decision making and advance planning, such as learning about treatment options, exploring attitudes and values, sharing views with family and friends, and properly documenting the appointment of a healthcare proxy," said Gary Kalkut, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Montefiore Medical Center. "A healthcare proxy is ethically and legally the voice of the patient and their role can facilitate smoother decision-making if the patient can no longer speak for him or herself. The need to encourage our patients to appoint an healthcare proxy is particularly acute in New York State, where next-of-kin are not given automatic authority to make all treatment decisions."
Montefiore Medical Center, along with other national, state and community organizations, is 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 as National Healthcare Decisions Day. As a participating organization, Montefiore is 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 New York state laws.
On April 16 Montefiore welcomes the public to its inpatient and ambulatory sites listed below, where free information about advance care planning will be provided at the times listed:
Montefiore Medical Center's Moses Division
111 E. 210th St., Bronx, outside the food court from noon- 2 p.m.
Montefiore Medical Center's Weiler Division
1825 Eastchester Road, Bronx, in the main lobby from noon-2 p.m.
Montefiore Comprehensive Family Care Center
1621 Eastchester Road, Bronx from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Montefiore Comprehensive Healthcare Center
305 E. 161 Street, Bronx from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Montefiore Bronx East
2300 Westchester Ave., Bronx from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Montefiore Williamsbridge
3448 Boston Road, Bronx from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Montefiore Family Care Center
3444 Kossuth Ave., Bronx from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
"We hope that as a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient. 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," Dr. Kalkut said.
For more information about National Healthcare Decisions Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org
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