The Health of Local Health Care:
Who will we call?
HIPPA Hysteria…the backlash from sweeping Federal regulations aimed at keeping your health information private…has health care workers and other public employees unable to tell anyone anything. It also has family and friends of patients frustrated with not being able to find out about the health of their loved ones.
One sad story:
On a beautiful summer morning, the friend of a young man dropped him off in the CVH Emergency Department and left. The young man was in a coma from a drug overdose. He had not been in this hospital before, so there were no records of who could be contacted. According to the new regulations, with out the patient's permission, we could not contact anyone, nor respond to any queries.
The young man passed away without regaining consciousness. The ED staff worried there was some family out there that would want to know. But how could they legally find the family and let them know? From his belongings they learned he was from out of state. They also found a prescription bottle. Because health care providers can share patient information, they called the attending physician. That physician had permission on file, from the patient, allowing him to contact the patient's family.
In this sad story the hospital staff were able to legally let family know directly that a loved one had passed. What would have happened if he had not had a prescription bottle? How long before his family would have found out?
Don't let this be your story
Are there people you would want to have contacted if you were brought into the hospital unconscious from a serious accident? Do you have wishes about the end of your life that you would like to have followed? Do you wish your organs to be used to help another? If so, you need to think now about how to ensure hospital staff are able to know these wishes and follow them.
- Decide which life-sustaining treatments you do not want if you become terminally ill. Complete a Living Will (available at Cascade Valley Hospital Admitting desk.) Put it in a safe place and tell someone where it is.
- Decide whom you would like to give authority to make health care decisions for you, should you become incapacitated. Complete a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Form (available at Cascade Valley Hospital Admitting desk.) Put it in a safe place and tell someone where it is. (This is not the same form as a Legal Power of Attorney.)
- Decide if, when you pass away, you would like to donate your organs. Complete an organ donation form (available at the Department of Motor Vehicles.)
- Decide whom you would like to have contacted in the event of hospitalization. Write those names and telephone numbers down and carry it with you. (Wallet card available at Cascade Valley Hospital Admitting desk.)
If you are able to make these decisions, write them down, and discuss them with your loved ones. The written documents will help make it possible for hospital staff to fulfill your wishes.
Health Care Decision wallet card
A wallet card is now available from the Admitting desk of Cascade Valley Hospital (or email Linda at 360-435-0514 and she will send you one.) On the card, you can fill in all of the above decisions you have made. Together with the right documents, this card can help make your wishes known. This information can save your family the anguish of not being able to receive the information they desire and you desire them to have. Encourage all you family members (even children over the age of 13) to carry a Health Care Decision card.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only. It should not replace a visit with your health care professional. Call your doctor if you need more information or have additional questions.