|
Kaweah Delta Health Care District Includes:
• Kaweah Delta Medical Center
• Kaweah Delta Rehabilitation Hospital
• Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital
• Kaweah Delta Imaging Center
• Kaweah Delta Exeter Health Clinic
• Kaweah Delta Urgent Care
• Kaweah Delta Visalia Dialysis
• Kaweah Delta Porterville Dialysis
• Kaweah Delta Hospice
• Kaweah Delta Sleep Disorders Center
• The Lifestyle Center
and maintains partnerships with:
• Cypress Surgery Center
• Quail Park Retirement Village
• Sequoia Regional Cancer Center
Download English AHD
Download Español AHD
Click Here to watch a short video describing what an Advance Healthcare Directive is and what it means to you and your family.
What is an Advance Healthcare Directive?
Advance Healthcare Directive (AHD) is a document with special instructions, prepared in advance, designed to direct medical care for you if you are unable to do so. This is helpful for adults of all ages and is useful in situations where you can not speak for yourself. Completing the AHD does not mean you do not want treatment. It is designed to give specific direction to your physicians and your family.
Why do you need one?
An AHD can help put your mind at ease and enhance your doctor’s and your family’s knowledge regarding your wishes for medical treatment. An AHD can prevent treatment that you would not choose for yourself and decrease feelings of helplessness and guilt for your family.
What should I include in my AHD?
Consider what is important to you—what are your goals for medical treatment?
• What things are important to you? Independence, self-sufficiency things of that nature.
• How do you imagine you would handle serious illness or disability?
• How might your personal relationships affect medical decision-making?
• What role should doctors and other health professionals play in such decisions?
• What kind of living environment is important to you if you become seriously ill or disabled?
• What role do religious beliefs play in your decisions?
• Should cost to your family be a part of the decision-making process?
In considering these questions you should choose someone that you trust to carry out these wishes. It is also recommend that you also select an alternate. Go over carefully with them what your wishes are and ask them if they would be willing to follow through with your choices.
|
