Norfolk, VA -
April 5, 2006 - Sentara Healthcare continues its leadership in Advance Directive awareness by scheduling its 5th annual Advance Directive Awareness Week from April 17th through 21st. Sentaras effort will coincide this year with Virginias first-ever Advance Directive Awareness Day on April 18th.
More than 800 people filled out Advance Directive documents during our awareness week at Sentara hospitals last year, says Sentara chaplain David Cochran. Were very proud to offer free access to the National Advance Directive Registry through Sentara, Cochran adds. This registry makes your Advance Directive available to physicians on line or by fax anywhere in the country.
Advance Directives are an act of love for your family and increasingly important in an age of far-flung families and uncertainty about the wishes of aging or sick relatives in regard to end-of-life decisions.
An Advance Directive clearly states a patients desires in regard to life-prolonging measures if they are critically ill and designates an agent, or spokesperson who is empowered to communicate those wishes to doctors, nurses and other caregivers.
Theres nothing worse than having a comatose or critically ill relative unable to communicate their own wishes, says Cochran. Advance Directives help eliminate uncertainty at one of lifes most critical moments.
Sentara Hospitals offer information, assistance...During Advance Directive Awareness Week, Sentara hospitals will post knowledgeable personnel at information tables, offering advance directive document kits and assistance in registering your advance directive.
For more information, or to receive an Advance Directive information kit call 1-800-SENTARA or go our
Advance Directive info page to download the forms.
27/2006