National Healthcare Decisions Day Set for April 16, 2011

Contacts: Sandra Williams, Director of Marketing, 715-483-0247; Bonnie Prazak, Social Worker, 715-483-0272

St. Croix Falls, WI – St. Croix Regional Medical Center, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16, 2011 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, SCRMC is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with WI/MN state laws.  These resources are available at St. Croix Regional Medical Center in brochure racks and online at  www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.  A free class will also be offered on May 4 at 10:00 a.m.

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Bonnie Prazak, SCRMC Social Worker.  “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”

For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

-###-