For Immediate Release
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Barbara Erb
U.S. Living Will Registry
Phone: (908) 654-1441/Fax: (908) 654-1919
barb@uslivingwillregistry.com
U.S. Living Will Registry Helps Hospitals
Educate Public About Advance Directives
Unveils new program to assist hospitals host "Living Will Fairs"
Westfield, N.J. (December 11, 2000) - The U.S. Living Will Registry
today launched its free, online "Living Will Fair" program to help hospitals
nationwide educate the public about advance directives. Commonly known as living
wills or health care proxies, advance directives allow people to make their
health care choices known if they are incapacitated. Presently, only 20% of
Americans have an advance directive. "Living Will Fairs", public events where
people learn about and prepare advance directives, are increasingly being used
by hospitals to increase awareness in these important documents. By hosting
these events, hospitals provide a valuable service to ensure that people's
wishes are known, and take the decision making burden off family members. This
new program makes it easy for hospitals to host an event in their community.
"Living will fairs are a great way for hospitals to improve the quality of
end-of-life care in this country. We are proud to offer the "Living Will Fair"
Guide to help hospitals provide a much needed service to their communities and
bring peace of mind to families everywhere," said Dr. Joseph Barmakian, Founder
of the Registry.
Any hospital can visit the U.S. Living Will Registry's web site (www.uslivingwillregistry.com)
and quickly download the program for their use. The guide offers step-by-step
instructions on how to plan, publicize and hold the event. From obtaining the
support of attorneys and community leaders, to press material, manpower
requirements, parking considerations and even refreshment suggestions, the
program addresses every aspect of planning, implementing and hosting a great
outreach event.
Hospitals are required by federal law to provide education to their
communities about advance directives, and many hospitals across the country have
recognized that hosting a "Living Will Fair" is a great way to teach the public
about these important documents. In an event hosted by Lenoir Memorial Hospital
in Kinston, North Carolina, over 300 advance directives were prepared and
registered with the U.S. Living Will Registry over a two-day period. In
September, Englewood Hospital in New Jersey registered over 100 documents in
just two hours, and other hospitals across the country have held similar
successful events.
Advance directives, living wills and health care proxies, allow a person to
communicate their choices about the kinds of treatment they want, or name
someone to make decisions for them, if they become incapacitated by illness. By
specifying their wishes in an advance directive, individuals can rest assured
that their loved ones will never be placed in the agonizing position of having
to make decisions about life support or end-of-life care. Doctors, too, are
grateful for the documents as they provide a clear direction for the treatment
of the patient. An advance directive provides a window into a person's thoughts
when they were capable of making clear choices about the care they want, or
don't want, in the event of serious illness.
Unfortunately, the documents are often not available when they are needed.
Studies show that 35% of advance directives are not available when the time
comes to use them. Registering an advance directive with the U.S. Living Will
Registry eliminates this problem. The Registry electronically stores advance
directives and makes them available to hospitals across the country 24 hours a
day.
Any hospital can call the Registry's toll-free number, 1-800-LIV-WILL, to see
if a patient has an advance directive. The document is then automatically faxed
to the hospital and placed in the medical record. Because only hospitals have
access to the documents, privacy and confidentiality are maintained. The service
is provided free of charge to the public.
For more information about the free services provided by the U.S. Living Will
Registry, including the "Living Will Fair" Guide, visit their web site:
www.uslivingwillregistry.com, or call toll-free 1-800-LIV-WILL
(1-800-548-9455).
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