ADVANCE DIRECTIVES / POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE

Inclusa recommends all members of the community have a written plan for their future medical care. These documents are called Advance Directives. The documents let you appoint someone to be your healthcare agent or Power of Attorney for Health Care. He or she can make choices on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so.

You have individual rights under Wisconsin law to make a decision concerning medical care, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and the right to create Advance Directives.

The Department of Health Services has resources available on their website to assist in guiding you through the process:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/guide/end-life-planning.htm

The link to the forms can be downloaded and printed from the following link:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/advdirectives/index.htm

Statewide resources are also available on the Department of Health Services website at the links above.

The links below are additional resources available to assist you in the preparation of your advance directives:

Honoring Choices (wismed.org)

http://www.gwaar.org/wi-guardianship-support-center.html#AdvanceDirectives

Local healthcare organizations also have resources available:

Ascension

Advance care planning in Wisconsin | Ascension

Aspirus

https://www.aspirus.org/advance-directives

Gundersen

http://www.gundersenhealth.org/patients-visitors/advance-care-planning/

Marshfield Clinic

https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/patient-resources/advance-directives

Essentia Health

https://www.essentiahealth.org/patients-visitors/advance-care-planning/

Health care providers generally follow health care directives or instructions from agents, provided the health care follows reasonable medical practice. Providers unable to follow agent’s directions must inform the agent and a notice must be added to a member’s medical record. Complaints regarding a provider not following directive requirements can be forwarded to:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/guide/complaints.htm

or by phone at
800-642-6552

Members over aged 60 may also contact the Ombudsman Program at

800-815-0015

or at

BOALTC Resources (wi.gov)