What if you’re all alone in the hospital, and a medical team is prepping you for surgery, you’re disoriented, unable to answer their questions. Who will speak for you? What happens next? These are the moments that highlight just how vital an Advance Health Care Directive can be.

An Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is a legal document that ensures your healthcare wishes are known and respected when you cannot communicate them yourself. This directive includes important details, like who you want to make decisions for you if you're unable to, and it outlines your preferences for medical treatments like CPR, do not resuscitate and artificial nutrition.

Why is having an Advance Health Care Directive crucial? When your AHCD is on file, the medical staff knows who to contact and what your wishes are. Without it, healthcare workers are left guessing, which can delay critical decisions and even lead to choices that don't align with your desires.

Having an AHCD means:

• Your healthcare preferences are respected, even if you can’t speak for yourself.
• The person you trust the most will make medical decisions on your behalf.
• Your family members are not left to struggle with tough decisions during an already stressful time.

These directives also provide clear guidance about whether you would want life-prolonging measures. These decisions can be challenging, especially in emotional moments, and having them clearly documented brings peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

At AmeriEstate, we recognize that having the right documents is only half the battle and making sure they’re accessible in a crisis is just as important. That’s why our Power of Attorney and Advanced Health Care Directive package includes DocuBank®.

DocuBank is an online service that gives you and your healthcare providers’ instant access to your vital documents anytime, anywhere. With DocuBank, your emergency healthcare directive, power of attorney, and other essential documents are available with just a call or a click, ensuring that your medical team can quickly access the information they need.

Benefits of DocuBank:

• Immediate Access: In an emergency, healthcare providers can retrieve your healthcare directive within seconds.
• Emergency Information Card: You receive an emergency card that lists how to access your directives and any other important healthcare details.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your medical decisions are respected, even if you can’t communicate them, brings a sense of security for you and your loved ones.

We can’t predict when a medical emergency will happen, but we can prepare for it. The Advance Health Care Directive ensures that, if you end up alone in a hospital, the right person will be contacted, and your wishes will be known and respected.

To learn more about how an Advance Health Care Directive can protect you and your family, contact AmeriEstate Legal Plan today at 800-235-0963 or https://tidycal.com/virginiaameriestate/estate-plan-15.