National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16

Studies show that less than one-third of all adults in the U.S. have a living will or any type of Advance Directive.  National Healthcare Decisions Day (NCDD) began in 2008 as a grassroots initiative to address this problem, by encouraging Americans to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes. The event's date, April 16th, is no coincidence. Nathan Kottkamp, Chairman of the NHDD initiative, selected the day after "Tax Day" as a tribute to Benjamin Franklin's famous adage: "Nothing in life is certain but death and taxes."

At Kristel K. Patton, P.C., we are committed to helping our clients plan for whatever the future may hold, not just financially but in all matters relating to healthcare.  This is why we have made a living will and healthcare power of attorney part of every client's comprehensive estate plan.  And, why we give our clients who are enrolled in our Empowered Legacy Planning Maintenance and Education process a complimentary membership to the DocuBank Healthcare Directives Registry. This service ensures our clients' healthcare directives and other vital medical information are immediately available to medical professionals and family members 24/7/365 in the event of an emergency.

If you have an existing healthcare power of attorney and living will, we encourage you to review your directives to ensure they still reflect your wishes. Tell your loved ones you have created documents pertaining to your healthcare wishes, so they will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing what to do in an emergency. And, if you are a DocuBank member, carry your DocuBank card in your purse or wallet at all times.