Honoring Our Patients and Capturing Lost Opportunities: The Financial, Legal, and Practical Benefits of Advance Planning

Posted by Jason Greis on March 27, 2009 under Events | Be the First to Comment |  Print

Wednesday, April 8, 2009
1:00-2:00 pm Eastern
(12:00-1:00 pm CT; 11:00 am-12:00 pm MT, 10:00-11:00 am PT)
Sponsored by the American Health Lawyers Association Public Interest Committee

Teleconference Description

Register here.  Now, more than ever, healthcare providers and patients have an interest in advance directives. During this period of economic uncertainty, advance planning can offer precious clarity and increased healthcare efficiency, and yet most Americans have not exercised this valuable right. Public awareness on this subject has increased in recent years, providing the perfect opportunity for providers to encourage their patients to execute an advance directive.

American Health Lawyers Association is offering a teleconference, Honoring Our Patients and Capturing Lost Opportunities, about why we all need to give this topic serious consideration. The teleconference will take place on April 8, 2009, 1:00 - 2:00 pm Eastern and will cover:

• Improvements in the quality of care when the patient’s wishes are known.
• The hospital’s continuing legal obligation to inform their patients about advance directives.
• The economic benefits of advance directives for the community.
• Tools and methods for communicating with your patients.

Teleconference participants will also receive a DVD of AHLA’s just-released educational video, Loving Conversations: One Family’s Story About the Importance of Advance Healthcare Planning. This video will be extremely helpful in facilitating conversations between you and your client or the healthcare provider and her patient. The DVD provides the viewer with a dramatic look at the difficult decision making process that a family must undergo when a loved one has no advance directive.

This teleconference also emphasizes AHLA’s support for National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) which is recognized every year on April 16. NHDD is an annual effort to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and healthcare facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.

Join us for this important discussion and invite your colleagues and clients to participate in this educational opportunity. CLE credit will be provided.  Materials will be available to registrants on April 1.

Speakers

Thomas W. Coons (Moderator)
OBER|KALER
Baltimore, MD