HARLINGEN — A conversation with loved ones on planning for death is an often uncomfortable but necessary discussion when it comes to helping to ensure that patients receive the care they desire even when they cannot speak for themselves, said Joe Perez, Valley Baptist Health System Vice President of Mission & Ministry.
Advance healthcare directives, are official documents outlining an individual’s wishes regarding their healthcare should they be unable to make decisions for themselves because of illness or should they become incapacitated.
Perez said advance directives and pre-determining medical power of attorney — meaning who can make medical decisions for a patient when they cannot make those decisions themselves — are important components of healthcare because they assist family members in making what could be difficult decisions for loved ones.
“Even though it is a difficult topic to address, it can be a loving act to prepare and tell our families what our wishes are as they relate to serious illness and the dying process,” he said. “For example if something happens to me, my family and I are victims of that terminal or irreversible condition that I face. But if I don’t prepare my family for the decision making process associated with the situation, I have left them to be victims of that decision making process as well.”
To help encourage and empower the community to learn more about advance directives, chaplains from Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen led an internal educational campaign earlier this year. From physicians to food service staff, more than 900 hospital team members attended the educational session, “Changing our culture for the benefit of our patients/families, ourselves and our families”. The content of the education encouraged all who attended to plan ahead for future healthcare decisions by completing their own advance directives, including the Medical Power of Attorney and the Directive to Physicians, Families and Surrogates (or Living Will).
Perez said learning more about advance directives will help VBMC staff better assist patients and families dealing with the same issues.
“In keeping with Valley Baptist’s faith-based history, we believe the more we speak about the issue in our supportive community, the more strength and skill we will gain to face this very difficult part of life for the good of our patients and their families, for our own loved ones, and for the community,” he said.
In addition to assistance available by appointment, beginning on Nov. 16 and every third Wednesday of each month thereafter, chaplains will also be stationed in the VBMC-H cafeteria from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. to assist both the community and employees with advance directive forms.
For more information on spiritual support services offered by Valley Baptist, visit https://www.valleybaptist.net/for-patients/support-services/spiritual-support.
