Cape Regional Celebrates National Decisions Day

COURT HOUSE – Cape Regional Medical Center, in cooperation with Cape Visiting Nurse Association (Cape VNA) along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a concentrated effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making – an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, Cape Regional Medical Center and Cape VNA are providing information and tools for 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 New Jersey State laws. These resources are available at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org .
On Mon., April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cape Regional Medical Center and Cape VNA are inviting the public to the Medical Center to receive free information about advance care planning and advance directives. Representatives from the Medical Center and Cape VNA will be in the East Lobby (Visitor’s Entrance) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“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,” said Barbara Ryan, Manager of Transitions in Care. “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.”
For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org or call the Cape Regional Medical Center’s Transitions in Care Office at 609-463-2904.