Aspirus Ontonagon to host Advance Care Planning Day March 21

At any age, a medical crisis could leave you too ill to make your own health care decisions. Planning for your future health care is an important step toward making sure you get the medical care you would want if you were unable to decide for yourself. For that reason, the Aspirus Ontonagon Clinic is hosting a special Advance Care Planning Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Monday, March 21.

At this event, you’ll receive helpful information and tools for talking about your wishes with family, friends and health care providers, and for executing written advance directives in accordance with Michigan laws.

Aspirus Ontonagon Clinic staff will provide information and consultations about advance care planning and advance directive forms at this special event.

“Having an advance directive is one of the best gifts you can give your family,” said Erin Hinton, supervisor of clinics for Aspirus Health. “Accidents or a serious injury can happen in the blink of an eye. If you have a signed advance directive, the health care agent you’ve selected will be empowered to make medical decisions on your behalf.”

Advance directives also give you an opportunity to specify the care you want – or don't want. For example, you can state your wishes about:

• CPR (if your breathing stops or your heart stops beating).
• Feeding through a tube in your stomach or through an IV.
• Extended care on a breathing machine.
• Tests, medicines, surgeries and blood transfusions.

For more information or if you don’t currently have an advance directive, you’re encouraged to make an appointment for this Advance Care Planning Day clinic by calling 906-884-8240.