Advanced Care Planning

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Recommended: 10 core public health functions

The Public Health Imperative measures the quality of life of an individual during times of severe chronic illness. This health imperative is characterized by: the potential to prevent suffering caused by the illness, major impact, and high burden. In the recent past is has become evident that care for older people, who have potential to become terminally ill, must be focused on. The types of patients may also lose the capability to make some of their most important decisions which include actions made by health professionals that are related to their end of life situation. Luckily actions were made to identify certain priorities pertaining to the public health and end of life issues. These priorities were established by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and the Healthy Aging Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These end of life health priorities which address short-term, medium-term and long-term needs are also called advanced care planning. It can be concluded that communication between professionals and among families about the patient can enhance the effectiveness of advanced care planning. Two examples of Advance Care Directives, which are living wills that allow a person to document end of life medical treatment, are the FiveWishes and MyDirectives in the United States. The FiveWishes directive is described as living with a heart and soul and follows five wishes. These wishes include: the person which will make decisions regarding the patient’s health when the patient is not able to, the kind of medical treatment wanted and not wanted, the level of comfortability of the patient, how the patient is treated, and the amount of information that the patient’s loved ones know. The MyDirec... ... middle of paper ... ...tually talked about the subject several times however have not written anything down or come to a conclusion. He feels that since we are his children, we have some say in the matter. My friends can find benefit in Advanced Care Planning by creating such a will incase anything drastic happens to them and they are unable to discuss this matter in the aftermath of any type of accident. My colleagues can find benefit by spreading the word to their families, friends, and communities. As future health care professionals it is essential in maintaining the health of our community and playing an active role in society. Works Cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Advance Care Planning: An Introduction for Public Health and Aging Services Professionals. Retrieved March 15, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/aging/advancecareplanning/care-planning-course.htm

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