This article will inform several ways to encourage patients to talk with their loved ones and healthcare providers about advanced care planning. Its purpose is to help them be more effective in discussing advance care planning with their patients as a health professional. The information below is how they should encourage them on advance care planning :
They Should Pay Attention
If they make advance care planning an essential part of their practice, then more attention will be paid to it, and its importance will become better understood by staff, patients, and their families. If the extent of advance care planning is understood, more significant efforts can be made to encourage people to think about it for themselves and their families.
Publicity
Publicity helps make advance care planning more essential and urgent. If significant publicity is given to the need for advance care planning and the problems that can arise without it, it will become a significant public health priority. It can help families better understand why it is so important and what they need to do.
Giving an Advance Care Directive
One way to promote advance care planning is to give patients an updated advanced care directive, which describes the type and level of medical support they may need at a future date. It is commonly called a “living will.” this document should be signed by, or witnessed by, the patient and their legally responsible adult close relative (usually a spouse or parent).
Advising Patients of the Procedure
Suppose they encourage patients to write an advance care directive and their family to witness it. In that case, they should be given the necessary information to understand its nature and how to complete it. Its inclusion in patients’ notes should ensure that it becomes part of their medical records.
Making Progress Care Planning a Key Aspect of Clinical Practice
If they progress, care planning is a crucial part of their practice; this should increase the likelihood that patients and their families will take it seriously and be more committed to following it. The procedure should be part of the admission procedure for any hospital or nursing home patient.
Conclusion
If they are a health professional and want to encourage patients to think about advance care planning, then the above tips can be helpful for them.