Why Are Patient Advocates and Advance Directives So Important?

There’s a line in William Shakespeare’s play Henry VI that reads, “Welcome, brave duke. Thy friendship makes us fresh. And doth beget new courage in our breasts. And doth deserve a coronet of gold.”

There is a level of friendship that does indeed inspire courage within us and is worth its weight in gold. In medical scenarios, this kind of friend can be an excellent advocate for us and a great person to be by our side at appointments, prep days, surgeries, and follow-ups.

While it’s nice to have a friend with us just for company or conversation, a friend can also drive us to and from appointments or treatments when it’s medically necessary or required by the surgical facility. It’s additionally helpful to have a friend present at consultations when results are being reviewed or treatment options discussed. An extra set of ears, or someone to take notes while we process the deluge of information, will afford us a record to reference later when we want to remember what was said during the appointment.

What Is a Patient Advocate?

Sometimes called a health advocate, a patient advocate helps you navigate the healthcare system to receive the best possible care. They do this by working with other members of your medical team to coordinate your care, communicating your wishes, asking questions, and expressing concerns. They often take notes about treatments and medications and generally look out for your best interests.

When it comes to choosing a person to be your advocate, we suggest asking someone who knows you well and is calm, organized, assertive, and comfortable asking questions. Of course, the person must be willing to take on such an important role. For you, the key is to choose someone you respect and trust to be both discreet and caring. Learn more about why and how to work with a patient advocate in “The Power of a Healthcare Advocate” by Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Why Having a Medical Advocate Is So Important

Your advocate can speak on your behalf if you are unable to make decisions or suddenly become incapacitated. This is why it’s crucial for your advocate to know ahead of time what your wishes are, so that they are clear on which decision to make and can speak as if you were doing the talking.
The primary way—and most legally binding way—your advocate can know your wishes and ensure that you receive the medical care you desire is if you formalize what’s called “an advance directive.”

If you don’t have an advance directive and are unable to make decisions or communicate, the state laws where you live will determine who can make medical decisions on your behalf. Usually, this person is your spouse, your parents if a spouse is not available, or your children if they are adults.

When Should I Create an Advance Directive?

The sooner, the better. For example, if you aren’t married and haven’t formally named your partner as your proxy, it’s possible they could be excluded from all decision-making. To find out the laws in your state, contact your state legal aid office or state bar association.

It’s important to have these documents in place and your advocate present for any major surgeries since you will likely be incapacitated by anesthesia during the procedure and unable to make decisions for yourself should something need to be decided during the operation.

According to the National Institute of Aging, advance care planning is not just for the elderly or the very ill. A medical crisis can occur at any moment, leaving you or a loved one unable to communicate. Planning now can help ensure you get the medical care you want and that someone you trust will be there to make the decisions you would make. Want to be better prepared? Get more information here.

What Is an Advance Healthcare Directive?

According to the American Cancer Society, “Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for healthcare are the living will and the durable power of attorney for healthcare.”

Here are some of the different types of advance healthcare directives:

• Living will
• Durable power of attorney for healthcare (AKA medical power of attorney)
• Physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST)
• Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders
• Organ and tissue donation

Is a living will the same thing as an advance directive?

No, these two documents are not the same thing. They are related, but while advance directives refer to any legal form guiding your future medical care, living wills refer to specific documents that determine end-of-life treatment. In summary, not all advance directives are living wills, but all living wills are advance directives.

A “living will” allows you to make important decisions ahead of time about the type of care you want to receive at the end of life. This could include instructions to not use artificial means (various machines) to prolong life if you become terminally ill. It could also include a written statement that says you want a Do Not Resuscitate Order, which the physician would then receive and follow.

What happens if I don’t have an advance directive?

Unfortunately, if you have not created these legal documents and become unable to communicate after being diagnosed with a terminal or irreversible condition, your doctor (or legal guardian or family members) would make decisions regarding withdrawing, withholding, or providing life-sustaining treatment.

Before you create these documents, talk to your healthcare provider or medical team and your loved ones. Furthermore, you will need to talk to at least one other person—that trustworthy friend Shakespeare lauds so highly—who you will select as your proxy or decision-maker, should you become unable to make decisions for yourself.
Then, it’s best for you and your advocate to consult a reputable attorney who practices this area of law so that the forms you fill out and sign are valid and enforceable within your state. Protect yourself by making sure your desires are written in such a way that they are legally binding.

Be Prepared for Future Surgical Procedures

At Champion, we understand the risks involved with each surgical procedure, and that some operations are more critical than others. We also know that patients want to feel in charge of their health and know they are receiving the best medical care possible.

The innovative procedure chairs in our TMM Collection optimize patient flow from admission to discharge, all on a single surface. This can help to minimize risk, maximize space, and enhance productivity.

Our procedure chairs allow the surgical team to focus on you and the procedure, so you and your advocate can focus on a peaceful process and productive outcome.

Browse our Digital Catalog to see our full portfolio of products and accessories.

Want to learn more? A Champion team member would be happy to help you evaluate any of our products for your facility.

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