Advance Care Planning
Getting health care often involves choices that impact your life and wellbeing in different ways. Treatments only work if they work for you. It is important to talk with people you love and trust, people from your community, and your health care team. Discussions make sure that you get the care that's right for you. You can go further and make a plan for your care - learn how to write these decisions down and make a health care directive (also known as an advance directive).
Health care directives
A health care directive, also called an advance directive, is a legal document that lets you share your health care wishes when your doctor determines you can't make decisions yourself. The document has several sections, but you can leave any section blank if you don’t have an answer. One section allows you to name a trusted person or people to make health care decisions for you if you can’t communicate. Other sections let you share instructions about your health, values, and personal preferences. You can include details about the kind of care you want in the future and what matters most to you for end-of-life care. You can give as much information and instructions as you want—you choose.
Find free Health Care Directives through Honoring Choices Minnesota, or from your local health care provider or health care system.
You can also consult with a qualified legal professional for guidance on health care directives: LawHelpMN: Health Care Directives. Non-English (e.g. Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish) versions of these documents are also available.
Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
This form is most helpful and used often when someone is outside of the hospital. It is a medical provider's order which must be discussed with and signed by a health care provider. This form helps first responders know what treatments you would like in an emergency (outside of a hospital). It is especially important when you have had conversations with your health care team about different life-prolonging treatment options for your health and care today.
Download and bring the POLST MINNESOTA form to your next medical appointment. Your health care provider will need to sign this form and make sure that it gets included in your electronic medical record.
Resources
- Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care – Advance Care Planning
- Minnesota Board on Aging – Advance Directives
- Minnesota Medical Association – POLST Minnesota
- For legal definitions in Minnesota regarding health care directives: 2016 MN Statute 145C.03 Health Care Directive under MN Statute 145C
- American Bar Association: Health Care Planning Guides and Tools
- Honoring Choices
- LawHelpMN: Toolkit for Health Care Advance Planning
- The Conversation Project