Perry Memorial Hospital has a commitment to the preservation of life and alleviation of suffering.  Therefore, every patient admitted to the hospital will receive total life support, including resuscitation, unless a decision not to resuscitate (to revive from apparent death) has been previously made. Social Services is the department which handles Healthcare Advance Directives.

It is the policy of Perry Memorial Hospital to recognize the rights of its patients to make informed decisions about their medical care (including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment, including life-sustaining care, even if the refusal could hasten death), and the right to formulate advance directives.  Additionally, this hospital recognizes the rights of patients lacking the decisional capacity to have surrogates, as provided by law, who may make decisions on their behalf.

Further, it is the policy of Perry Memorial Hospital to comply with applicable law and to promote patients’ self-determination by encouraging the use of advance directives and honoring treatment preferences expressed by patients and their advance directives, so long as those preferences are allowed by law.

In so doing, it is this hospital’s policy not to condition care or discriminate against individuals based on whether they have executed an advance directive, nor to require any person to execute an advance directive.

 PROCEDURE

1. Every adult patient will be asked on admission if he/she has executed an advance directive.
2. If no, the patient will be asked if they would like to complete an advance directive or receive information, and Social Services will be contacted.
3. If the patient has an advance directive, he/she will be asked to provide a copy which will become a part of the patient’s hospital record.
4. If the patient has an advance directive on file in the hospital, they will be asked if it is up-to-date, then a copy will be made and it will become part of the patient’s medical record.
5. A summary of the Perry Memorial Hospital Administrative Policy on the Patient Self-Determination Act, including a definition of terms and the statement of Illinois law on Advance Directives, will be made available to every adult patient.
6. In case of an emergency or the patient’s inability to participate in the admission process, the patient will be given the care deemed appropriate by the physician. The questions and information will be directed to the patient’s agent or surrogate as determined by the order of priority in the Health Care Surrogate Act.
7. Questions about advance directives may be directed to the Care Management Department (ext. 2152), the patient’s physician or a member of the Ethics Committee. You may contact a member of the Ethics Committee by asking the nursing supervisor or Care Management staff.