Families and health care workers are often required to make medical decisions without knowing a patient's preferances. In order to address this, Barwon Health has implemented the Respecting Patient Choices program.
A key aim of the program is to identify patient wishes regarding their health care, particularly around end-of-life issues, and document these in an advance care plan.
Respecting Patient Choices is an advance care planning program which:
- Promotes an individual's understanding about their future treatment options.
- Assists individuals to document their wishes and preferences about their future medical treatment, particularly end-of-life treatement, in an Advance Care Plan.
Advance care planning is a consultation process with health care providers and family members that help you make decisions about your future health care, should you become unable.
In Victoria, the program relies on powers enabled by the Victorian Medical Treatment Act (1988). The Act enables a person to appoint someone who can act as his or her Medical Enduring Power of Attorney (MEPOA) for medical treatment.
The Respecting Patient Choices program is currently being implemented across Victorian health services and in the residential aged care setting and is now established in each state and territory across Australia.
The program has been endorsed by Barwon Health and provides a free service to the community of the greater Geelong region. This includes promotion of community awareness by providing a guest speaker for organisations upon request.
For further information or referrals please dowload the following items:
Advance Care Planning brochure.pdf
Advance Care Planning Guide.pdf
Advance Care Planning flyer.pdf
Advanced Care Planning referral form.pdf
Contact the HelpDesk on 5226 7006 between 9.00am and 12.30pm, Monday to Friday.
www.respectingpatientchoices.org.au |