(Dillon, SC) – April 16, 2013, is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). McLeod Medical Center Dillon, along with other national, state and community organizations, urges 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 South Carolina state laws. Resources are also available at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

In recognition of NHDD, representatives from McLeod Hospice will be on the McLeod Dillon campus on April 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing information on advance directives as well as other tools to help guide the healthcare decision-making process. A social worker will be in the hospital lobby to answer any questions you may have and to notarize your advance directive if completed that day. Copies of the Five Wishes booklets will also be available for interested persons. This document is accepted as an advance directive. The public is welcome to come and take advantage of these resources.

Representatives from McLeod Hospice will also be present on the McLeod Regional Medical Center campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kiosk in the Main Tower and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pavilion at Café du Jour.

As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known. Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.

NHDD is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.

The mission of NHDD is to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.

An advance directive is a written record of your wishes regarding your health care that helps your loved ones and health care providers in the event of a medical crisis. Advance directives go into effect only when you are unable to make decisions regarding your health care.

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