Why Having an Advance Directive Isn’t Enough — How the Emergency Medical Access Card Ensures Your Wishes Are Honored
Advance directives are a critical part of patient-centered care, allowing individuals to document their preferences for medical treatment if they become unable to speak for themselves. Completing one is a responsible step — but research shows that completion alone does not guarantee your wishes will guide care. A study by Walker et al. (2018) of 414 […]
Empowering Patients: Advance Directives and the AHRQ Guide to Patient & Family Engagement
Advance directives are a cornerstone of patient-centered care, ensuring that a patient’s preferences for treatment are respected even if they become unable to speak for themselves. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Guide to Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Quality and Safety (2023) highlights the crucial role advance directives play in meaningful […]
Case Study: The Hidden Gap in Advance Directives — 180 Hospital Admissions
Every second counts in a medical emergency. Yet even when patients take the responsible step of completing advance directives, those wishes often remain invisible at the moment care decisions are made. A landmark study published in the JAMA Network highlights this gap and its real-world consequences. The Study: Researchers reviewed 180 hospital admissions of patients […]
Legal Directives Helps You Follow The Mayo Clinic’s Guidance on Healthcare Directives
When it comes to planning for the future, peace of mind matters. That’s why the Mayo Clinic offers straightforward advice about advance directives: don’t just fill out the form— make sure it’s available and up to date when it’s needed most. (Mayo Clinic: Living wills and advance directives for medical decisions) Here are a few […]
Advance Healthcare Directives: Why Accessibility in Emergencies Matters
Advance healthcare directives — sometimes called living wills — are powerful legal tools that allow you to document your medical wishes before a crisis. But here’s the surprising truth: research shows that even when patients have completed directives, they’re often not available in the emergency department (ED) when needed most. A 2024 study in BMC […]