HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF NHDD
In 2008, both houses of Congress formally recognized National Healthcare Decisions Day (S.Con.Res. 73 & H. Con.Res. 323), officially establishing the NHDD event as a national initiative to occur each April. The goal of National Healthcare Decisions Day is to engage and educate the public about the necessity of advance care planning.
PROBLEM TO SOLVE
Despite recent gains in public awareness of the need for advance care planning, studies indicate that most Americans have not exercised their right to make decisions about their healthcare in the event that they cannot speak for themselves.
SOLUTION
National Healthcare Decisions Day helps individuals understand that making future healthcare decisions includes much more than deciding what care they would or would not want; it starts with expressing preferences, clarifying values, identifying care preferences, and selecting an agent to express healthcare decisions if they are unable to speak for themselves.
ACTION
National Healthcare Decisions Day-Minnesota leverages participating organizations' efforts and commitment to:
Increase awareness of the benefits of advance care planning so that individuals will be familiar with how to obtain and complete a Minnesota Health Care Directive, and to talk to others about their decisions.
Rally a statewide media campaign to let individuals know how to access information and resources.
Initiate outreach and educational activities for people to learn about advance care planning and to complete a Minnesota Health Care Directive.
RESULTS
Hundreds of organizations around the country - as well as U.S. military bases around the world - have participated in NHDD. Survey results from less than half of participating organizations indicate that over 600,000 facility/organization staff members have received NHDD information or training, over 130,000 members of the general public have participated in NHDD events, and roughly 10,000 advance directives have been completed on April 16th alone. In Minnesota, more than thirty NHDD events have been held annually around the state, sponsored by hospitals, hospices, law firms, senior centers, churches, community centers, insurers, and law schools. Participation has continued to grow annually, with legal and medical professionals donating their services. Anyone wishing to attend a free NHDD event in Minnesota may find the location nearest them at: NHDD-Minnesota Event Listing.
