Too many people and their loved ones were caught unprepared when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe. People of all ages were fighting for their lives in hospitals. Often their loved ones had no idea what their wishes were when…
When a loved one is in the hospital with a serious illness, it is an emotional and anxious time. Family members can experience an array of emotions like fear, jealousy, guilt, resentment, anger, denial, grief and fear. As a result,…
During our lifetimes, we plan for major transitions like going to college, getting married and retiring. But it is hard for most of us to think about the biggest transition of all: the end of our lives. Like many people,…
Memorial Health System, along with other national, state and community organizations, is participating in an initiative to highlight the importance of advance care planning—National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). NHDD exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and healthcare providers…
An advance directive is a legal document that outlines your wishes for medical treatment in the event you are unable to make decisions for yourself. It allows you to record what kind of medical treatment you may or may not…
Engaging your family is a critical step in the advance care planning process. If you are unable to make decisions for yourself, these individuals will speak on your behalf. It is important to have a conversation about your healthcare wishes…
Are patients avoiding the hospital or their doctor’s office when they need care because of anxiety about COVID-19? That may be the case, according to Rajesh Govindaiah, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Memorial Health System. “We…
Do you know what healthcare treatments you would and would not want if you could not speak for yourself? Do other people know what your wishes are? Whether we plan for it or not, sudden illness or accidents can happen…
Fact: we are all going to die someday. National Healthcare Decision Day educates and motivates people and healthcare providers to talk about advance care planning. Advance care planning can include living wills, hospice and palliative care, treatment plans if diagnosed…
Fighting cancer involves a multidisciplinary attack. Typically, the big three weapons a cancer patient has available to them are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Of those three, radiation therapy is often the least understood — perhaps because of how technologically…