What is an Advance Directive? | A Dose of Health

An advance directive. What is it? Why should we - at any age - have one? What's a proxy? A Chief Medical Officer and an AVP of Clinical Operations sit down with Kate to break down this topic in a helpful, practical way. We discuss: What are the most common advance directives that people should be considering when it comes to planning ahead for end of life care What misconceptions do people often have about creating - and changing - advance directives? If someone becomes unable to make medical decisions and doesn't have an advance directive in place, what typically happens? Advice for beginning a potentially uncomfortable or frightening conversation like this How to help calm the overwhelm regarding this topic --- Rachel Brauner, DO, is a dedicated pediatrician with 14 years of clinical experience, including 11 years serving families at Hunterdon Pediatric Associates. Alongside her clinical practice, she serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Hunterdon Healthcare Partners, the integrated delivery system for Hunterdon Health. Elaine has been a Registered Nurse for 37 years and has worked in acute care Case Management for the last 10 years. Recently promoted to AVP of Clinical Operations at Hunterdon Health, she currently oversees hospital Case Management and Physical and Occupational therapy, as well as the health system's outpatient Hospice, Home Health, and Physical and Occupational therapy services. Link to advance directives: https://www.hunterdonhealth.org/servi... -- A Dose of Health is a Healthy In The Garden State miniseries bringing New Jerseyans information, inspiration, and actionable health insights in 15(ish) minutes or less. Learn more about Healthy In The Garden State: https://healthyinthegardenstate.com    / @healthyinthegardenstate   -- This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health and treatment options. Hunterdon Health is also our season sponsor of our title series, Healthy In The Garden State.