Beebe Healthcare’s Palliative Care Team Bringing Awareness to National Healthcare Decisions Day
Beebe Healthcare is celebrating National Healthcare Decisions Day this year on Monday, April 17 with an open house on the Rehoboth Health Campus.
Join part of Beebe’s Palliative Care team in the McCurry Conference room in the Medical Arts building (18947 John J Williams Hwy, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971) between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to learn about the importance of Advance Health Care Directives and get assistance in completing their forms.
An Advance Health Care Directive is a legally recognized set of instructions to your medical providers. The directive can tell your medical team who you want to make decisions. The directive can also give specific directions about the care choices you want at the end of life. A directive is easy to complete, and there are several forms available to address your specific needs.
At the open house, Beebe Patient Advocates Keith Goheen, BCC, and Jody Barbarulo, MA, will have forms available and can help you complete one. Katie Johnson, DO, Director of Palliative Care Services and Magen Bowlin, NP, Nurse Navigator will be available to answer questions about your medical choices.
“Beebe advocates for the right of every patient to make personal healthcare decisions,” Dr. Johnson said. “You have the right to accept or decline any medical treatment, and should you lose the capacity to make decisions, you have the right to designate someone to make decisions for you. You also have the right to record instructions to your medical providers about the life-sustaining treatments you may or may not want. Your written instructions become an important guide for your medical providers, and the instructions also lift the burden of difficult choices from the people who know and love you.”
Those who cannot attend the open house can contact Beebe’s Patient Experience Department for information about Advance Health Care Directives by calling 302-645-3547. Visit our informational page to download the advanced directive form or learn more about this crucial healthcare choice.