Advance Care Planning
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIH) Advance care planning involves learning about the types of decisions that might need to be made, considering those decisions ahead of time, and then letting others know—both your family and your health care providers—about your preferences.
These preferences are often put into an advance directive, a legal document that goes into effect only if you are incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself. This could be the result of disease or severe injury—no matter how old you are. It helps others know what type of medical care you want.
An advance directive also allows you to express your values and desires related to end-of-life care. You might think of it as a living document—one that you can adjust as your situation changes because of new information or a change in your health.
On October 12, 2021, the Department of Health and Welfare established a new Idaho Healthcare Directive Registry (IHDR) and existing advance directives were transferred from the Secretary of State to the new system. IHDR is a secure web-based system where Idahoans can safely create, store, and share their healthcare advance directive. Idaho healthcare professionals can access the IHDR to view existing directives 24/7 at no charge. Licensed physicians, advance practice professional nurses, and physician assistants can create an electronic POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) that can be digitally signed by the provider and patient.
You may access additional information and a worksheet on the website listed below.