Advance Care Planning

What is Respecting Choices?

Respecting Choices® is the Advance Care Planning program at Northeast Georgia Health System. This is the gold standard program started in Gundersen, WI, that incorporates person-centered care into patient’s healthcare choices. This program has successfully been implemented because of funding by the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation’s Healthy Journey Campaign, an affiliate of NGHS to improve the health and well-being of the people of our community.

What is an Advance Directive for Healthcare?

An Advance Directive for Healthcare is a legal document that allows you to name:

  1. Part 1: A healthcare agent (and back-up agents)
    formerly The Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
  2. Part 2: Treatment preferences you want or do not want.
    formerly the Living Will

In 2007 our GA legislator combined these documents so a patient’s healthcare wishes can more easily be named and updated in one document.

Advance Care Planning is a Conversation.

It’s one of the most important conversations you can have with your loved ones. What if you are in the hospital and can’t speak for yourself? Have you ever talked through who you would want to speak for you and what kind of treatment you would want or not want? 

This is a gift that people don’t often realize. People may assume that their loved ones know what they would want. Or they assume there will not be that many choices. This conversation allows you to share your values, goals and preferences, and empowers them to advocate for you and honor your wishes.

This is why we are initiating this conversation to equip you to Make Your Choices so we can Respect Your Choices.

“The most important piece of medical ‘equipment’ in the hospital room is the Advance Directive, as it’s a factor in every care decision.”

Mike Freeman, ACP Volunteer

Get started

We are here to help you and your loved ones initiate this conversation. Please use the Contact Form on this page to request an appointment or ask a question.