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Lisa Luecke (left) and Laquita Culwell are asking area residents to stop by their desk in the main lobby of Cogdell Memorial Hospital this month to fill out forms designating medical power of attorney and advanced directives for medical personnel to follow in case of a serious injury or illness. The forms may be picked up every Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning.
By Steve Reagan
SDN Staff Writer
One of the most important decisions you’ll ever have to make is determining what level of health care you want — or don’t want — in the latter stages of your life.
Cogdell Memorial Hospital wants to help you make sure your wishes are known.
This month, the Population Health Department at the hospital will have staff available to help people draw up paperwork instructing the hospital of advanced directives and medical power of attorney.
Advanced directives alert medical staff how far they can go in treatment. For example, if you are suffering from a terminal illness, and you don’t wish hospital personnel to take “heroic measures” to keep you alive, the advanced directives form will convey your wishes, even if you can’t.
Medical power of attorney forms empower a family member or other person to make legal decisions as to the level of care you’ll receive while at the hospital.
While these forms are ideal for the elderly or patients suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses, they’re really for everybody, hospital staff said.
“It’s the second-most important question you’ll be asked here,” said Registered Nurse Laquita Culwell. “The first is, ‘What is your name?’ and the second is ‘Do you have these documents?’ This is vitally important, so that you are able to give directions to your family or the people who are speaking for you in your life’s journey.”
Population Health Director Lisa Luecke said staff members will be in the hospital’s main lobby every Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning in February to help complete the forms. The service is free.
“We hand them the paperwork, and they can take it with them and bring it back later, or we can help them fill it out,” Luecke said.
She estimated it takes about five to 10 minutes to complete the forms, which do not have to be notarized, but must be witnessed by two people.