NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY

National Healthcare Decisions Day Set for April 16, 2010

Lee Memorial Health System, 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, 2010 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, Lee Memorial Health System 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 Florida state laws. These resources are available free for download from our website at www.leememorial.org/shareclub/livingwill.asp.

Additionally, on April 16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lee Memorial Health System is welcoming the public to request free copies of an Advance Directive at the Information Desk in each hospital’s main lobby (Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center and Lee Memorial Hospital).

“National Healthcare Decisions Day will cause many people in our community to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and encourage them to complete or update their advance directives to make their personal wishes known,” said Jim Nathan, LMHS President.  “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions at times of health crises and all involved will be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to make these tough choices.”

For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.