Advance Care Planning helps your care team know what matters most to you

By Thomas A. Aloia, MD, MHCM, FACS

April 16 is National Healthcare Decision Day. It’s a day dedicated to inspiring, educating and empowering the public, doctors and healthcare providers about the importance of Advance Care Planning. Advance Care Planning is a process for all adults that includes planning for future healthcare decisions by thinking about what matters most to you.

Sometimes, we may think our loved ones know what we want. But we may create stress and confusion for our loved ones when they try to guess our values and wishes. Advance Care Planning is a gift to help your family. It gives you the chance to make sure your preferences or wishes are heard and written down.

If you are ready to start planning for future healthcare decisions, we would encourage you to start a conversation with your doctor or healthcare team. They will take the time to listen to understand you and your preferences. Then, they will help you focus on what really matters to you

Explore our website to learn more about your options. Our online tool, called Allay, can help you develop a well-thought-out plan to give you and your loved ones peace of mind.