Advance Care Planning 

Many people believe during emergencies, or at the end of life, their loved ones know their wishes regarding medical treatments, life-saving measures, and who should speak for them when they are unable. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Advance Care Planning takes the guesswork out of these future decisions by putting your wishes in writing as an advance directive.

Ringgold County Hospital (RCH) and the Mt. Ayr Medical Clinic (MAMC) provide free assistance in the preparation and distribution of your advance directives. Take advantage of this program today for peace of mind tomorrow. To learn more about this program, or with any questions, please reach out to our clinic at (641) 464-4470.

WHAT IS AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE?

An advance directive is like a set of instructions for your future medical care. It’s designed to help you and your loved ones during situations when you might be too sick to talk to medical providers about what you want. Think of an advance directive as a way to tell both loved ones and medical professionals your wishes in advance.

There are usually two parts to an advance care plan:

1) Who speaks for you

You choose someone you trust to make choices if you cannot. This is normally in the form of what’s called a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAH).

2) What kind of care you want

You can say what treatments you would or wouldn’t want in certain situations. Typically, this is in a document called a Living Will and may or may not contain other documents depending on your situation. This might include life saving measures such as CPR.

The team at RCH and MAMC is ready to help you complete your advance directives. It’s easy to get started.

WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE AN ADVANCE CARE PLAN

Peace of Mind - Documenting your preferences for medical treatments, life support, and pain management ensure your control over your health care, even in the face of illness.  This brings immense peace of mind and lessens anxieties surrounding future medical decisions.

Reduce the Burden - During difficult times, loved ones may experience emotional distress and be unsure about your wishes. A clear plan not only honors your wishes but helps everyone make informed decisions with greater confidence. It provides guidance, eliminates confusion and potential disagreements.

Strengthen Bonds - Having open conversations to discuss your health care preferences fosters deeper understanding and respect with those you love. By being proactive, you create a sense of unity and preparedness, allowing everyone to navigate challenging situations with clarity and compassion.

Advance directives should include the documents listed below. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to fill them out or have questions. The Mt. Ayr Medical Clinic team is here to help.

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES DOCUMENTS

Living Will

This legal document defines the types of medical treatment you do or do not want. Some living will documents are very personal, covering a wide range of topics from your preferences for pain management, medical treatments, life support, and more. If you are unable to communicate, would you like your hand held? Would you like bedside prayers? These are the sorts of questions you can answer in your living will. Five Wishes is a popular tool that helps you answer many of these questions and may be available to you through MAMC at no charge. Ask your MAMC health care team what options are available.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAH)

This document legally designates an individual as your health care agent, to speak on your behalf if you are unable to communicate. The form not only allows you to designate an agent, but to limit the type and scope of decisions they can make.  Without the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, your next of kin, such as a spouse or adult son or daughter, will be given the responsibility.

Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treament (IPOST)

Those who have a critical illness, are older adults, frail, or in the last stages of an illness should consider supplementing their advance directive with an IPOST. An IPOST is a medical order signed by your health care provider clearly defining your preferences for life-sustaining treatments, such as artificially administered nutrition, CPR, or machine-assisted breathing. Ask your health care team if an IPOST is right for you.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND DOWNLOADS

RCH has gathered the following links for your convenience. If these links aren’t working properly, please reach out to the RCH team using the phone numbers above and we’ll make sure you get what you need. Be sure to ask your RCH health care team what other options, such as Five Wishes, might be available to you.

This project is supported by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) under grant number D0440232, Rural Patient Outreach through Advance Care Planning, for $199,279. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.