COVID-19 Pandemic
Conversations about things we do not have power over help to give us a sense of control. We cannot predict every choice we may have to make, but we can give those we love the guidance to confidently make decisions for us. This is the time to help the people closest to us—our friends, our spouses, our parents or grandparents—get the care that is right for them if they become seriously ill with COVID-19. Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are living in a complex time filled with uncertainties. In the midst of everything we cannot predict or control, there remain opportunities for collaboration and informed decision-making. All of us need to have these conversations, especially those who are over 60 years old and are living with a chronic health conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease or cancer.
- Use this resource guide to help you prepare in the time of COVID-19
- If you go to the hospital and become seriously ill, these are the questions you will likely be asked
- For a comprehensive list of resources, visit The Conversation Project website
- Listen to past webinar recordings on Advance Care Planning
For additional questions, please contact CIVHC at info@civhc.org.
Why Focus on Advance Care Planning?
A better health care system would help patients make the hard decisions early and ensure their wishes are fulfilled.
Advance Care Planning (ACP) allows individuals to share and document their wishes surrounding serious illness, incapacitation, and end of life. One of the most prevalent misconceptions is that ACP is only necessary for those with a life limiting condition. ACP is available to everyone, regardless of their condition.
Today, many individuals with advanced illness receive care that is fragmented, uncoordinated, or inadequate to meet their growing needs and personal wishes. Ensuring that care plans align with patient needs and wishes is the purpose of ACP.
CIVHC convenes a monthly ACP Workgroup designed to help providers, clinicians, social workers, and others to increase awareness of ACP and share best practices across sectors. For more information, please contact CIVHC at info@civhc.org.
Involvement in the ACP Workgroup includes:
- Sharing community and organizational ACP work that highlights project experiences, lessons learned, and potential opportunities for best practice replication across the state.
- Identifying and engaging key stakeholders and organizations not currently active in ACP, disseminating shared objectives and enabling education.
- Partnering with the Reimbursement and Policy Workgroup and the Provider Training and Skill Building Workgroup to optimize the goals of each.
Organizations and Resources for ACP
- Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment - Video: Advance Care Planning
- Pinnacle Health Provider Training - Coding Advance Care Planning
- Colorado Care Planning - Aims to help Coloradans find information for future medical planning, including choosing a medical decision maker.
- National POLST - Provides background information on the national POLST paradigm, research findings and news, educational materials.
- Caring Connections - Offers support to patients and families including information on advance care planning and downloadable state-specific advance directives.
- Colorado Hospital Association - CHA is the leading voice of the Colorado hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers and the general public.
- Colorado Health Care Association - The Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living belongs to its member communities, the professionals who work inside those communities, and the guests who are residents of those communities. From skilled nursing to rehab, memory care to assisted living, CHCA exists to improve Long-Term Care in Colorado through education, advocacy, and political action.
- Hospice Analytics (National Hospice Locator) - The National Hospice Locator (NHL) geo-maps and provides information about every known hospice in the United States.
- The Conversation Project - The Conversation Project's mission is to foster meaningful and effective conversations about end-of-life care. They provider resources and education to start, have and document conversations around advance care planning.
National Healthcare Decisions Day
On April 16th, 2023 CIVHC is one of many organizations participating in National Health Care Decisions Day.
Each year, we mark this day to empower the public and providers to engage in important conversations around Advance Care Planning.