l Ask the patient to bring a copy of the completed form at the next visit for you to keep. If appropriate, share the plan with family members.
l Revise any advance directives based on the patient’s changing health and preferences.
Be sure to put a copy of the completed form in the medical record. Too often, forms are completed, but when needed, they cannot be found. Many organizations now photocopy the forms on neon-colored paper, which is easy to spot in the medical record.
If your patient is in the early stages of an illness, it’s important for you to assess whether or not the underlying process is reversible. It’s also a good time to discuss how the illness is likely to play out. If your patient is in the early stages of a cognitive problem, it is especially important to discuss advance directives.
For more information on advance directives, contact: Aging With Dignity
P.O. Box 1661
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1661
1-888-594-7437 (toll-free)
www.agingwithdignity.org
This group provides an easy-to-read advance care planning document called Five Wishes.