April 9, 2018
Fredericksburg,
VA – April 9, 2018 – Mary Washington Healthcare, along with other community, state, and national
organizations, is leading an effort to raise awareness of the importance
of advance healthcare decisionāmaking. National Healthcare Decisions Day
encourages all adults in the U.S. to consider their healthcare wishes
and to put them in writing in case they ever become unable to communicate.

In observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day, MWHC will host events
on April 16, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Mary Washington
and Stafford Hospitals. Attendees will receive tools to discuss their
wishes with family, friends, and healthcare providers, and instructions
on how to complete written advance directives—also known as healthcare
powers of attorney and living wills—that are legally valid under
Virginia law. Representatives from The Conversation Project will be on
hand to explain advance directives, help individuals complete the form,
and answer questions. Long and short versions, as well forms in Spanish,
will be available. In addition, a presentation by Mike Newby from
Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle, PC will be held at Mary Washington
Hospital from noon to 1:00 p.m. Mr. Newby will answer questions, provide free information, and give assistance
with advance healthcare planning.
“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 Dr. Rebecca Bigoney, Executive Vice
President and Chief Medical Officer at MWHC. “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.”
Visit
www.nhdd.org to learn more about advance directives and to find the short version of the form.
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About Mary Washington Healthcare
Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system
that provides inpatient and outpatient care through more than 40 facilities
and services, including Mary Washington Hospital, a 451-bed regional medical
center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington
Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system with a longstanding commitment
to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about
our services and facilities, visit www.MWHC.com.