Page 26 - Home Health Marketing

If you executed a living will or durable power of attorney for health care before
July 1, 1991, you may want to review it, since a new law has gone into effect
which gives you more options and information. Even if you decide not to
update it, the old documents are still legal

We must document in your medical record whether or not you have executed
a living will and/or DPAHC. We will abide by your advance directives. Care
will be provided to you regardless of whether or not you have executed a living
will or DPAHC. It is our policy to honor advance directives to the extent
permitted by law and to support a patient’s right to actively participate in
making health care decisions.

An ethics committee is available to serve in an advisory capacity when ethical
issues, such as the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatments
arise during the care of patients with or without an advance directive.
Discussion shall involve the patient and/or designated representatives, the
home care staff involved in the patient’s care and the patient’s physician.

Unless the physician has written a specific Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order,
it is our policy that every patient will receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR). If you do not wish to be resuscitated, you, your family or your DPAHC
PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR AGENCY’S
must request DNR orders from your physician. These orders are documented
POLICY ON ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
in your medical record and routinely reviewed; however, you may revoke
(FROM YOUR POLICES & PROCEDURES MANUAL)
your consent to such an order at any time.

AGENCY POLICY ON ADVANCE DIRECTIVES

Our agency complies with the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990, which
requires us to:
 Provide you with written information describing your rights to make
decisions about your medical care;

 Document advance directives prominently in your medical record and
inform all staff;

 Comply with requirements of state law and court decisions with respect to
advance directives; and
 Provide care to you regardless of whether or not you have executed an
advance directive.

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