Advanced Directive Information
What are advance directives?
An “Advance Directive” is a general term that refers to your instructions about your medical care in the event you become unable to voice these instructions yourself. Each state regulates advance directives differently. In the state of Wisconsin, a patient has the right to make decisions about their healthcare through a written document that tells doctors and health care providers how you would want medical decisions you have made to be carried out. An Advance Directive will allow you to make decisions about your future health care if you are not able to make those decisions at the time treatment is recommended. It also tells your doctor and loved ones what treatment you want or do not want.
Our Facility Advance Directive Policies
Our surgery center can provide you with information regarding preparing an advance directive in accordance with Wisconsin State Law, or you may access this information using the website listed below or the surgery center website. Legal opinions will not be provided by surgery center staff and/or medical staff nor will you be allowed to develop Advanced Directives at the center with the expectations that center staff will provide legal and/or witness documents. The surgery center can provide you with the state’s official advance directive form at the request of you or your representative.
Upper Mississippi Surgery Center recognizes the right of adult patients to make informed decisions regarding their care. However, the facility has adopted the position that an ambulatory surgery center is not an appropriate setting for end-of-life decisions. Therefore, as a matter of conscience, Upper Mississippi Surgery Center will always attempt to resuscitate a patient and transfer that patient to a hospital in the event of deterioration. All procedures performed at the center fall under this limitation. The State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services does allow for such a limitation.
Each patient will be asked if he or she would like to execute an Advance Directive upon admission to the surgery center. Your decision to provide/not provide an Advance Directive will be documented in your medical record at the surgery center. In the instance you would be transferred to a facility for a higher level of care, a copy of the Advance Directive you provided will be given to that facility upon your transfer.
Advance Directive Resources
Wisconsin State Advance Directive Information
- Information regarding Wisconsin State statutes related to Advance Directives can be found at this link: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/154
- The approved forms for the state of Wisconsin can be found here:
- For further information please visit the website below or ask for a copy at the registration desk: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/AdvDirectives/index.htm
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding Advance Directives you will be directed to the facility’s HIPAA Compliance Officer.
