John Randolph Medical Center to Host Healthcare Decision Day Event for the Public

(HOPEWELL, VA) April 2, 2008 – In recognition of April 16, 2008 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), John Randolph Medical Center will provide a day for the public to come in, discuss their healthcare wishes and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Virginia state laws. 

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 at John Randolph Medical Center.  Staff will be available in the hospital’s main lobby to share free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms. 

John Randolph Medical Center is also sponsoring an advance directives seminar on April 16 at the Appomattox Regional Library in Hopewell. Fletcher Cook, Ombusdman at the Crater Area Agency on Aging, will conduct a presentation on “The Role of a Power of Attorney and Making Healthcare Decisions” at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is expected to encourage many more people in the community to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known, said Jeanne Flinn, Continual Readiness Coordinator at John Randolph Medical Center.

 “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so,” Flinn said.

Advance directives come in two main forms:

• A Healthcare Power of Attorney that documents the person you select to be your voice for your healthcare decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. 
• A Living Will that documents what kinds of medical treatments you would or would not want at end of life.

For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org. For more information about John Randolph Medical Center or to obtain a physician referral, call MedLine at 800-242-5662 or visit HCARichmond.com and click on John Randolph Medical Center.

About John Randolph Medical Center
John Randolph Medical Center, a 147-bed facility located at 411 West Randolph Road in Hopewell, has served the Tri-Cities for over 90 years, providing high quality healthcare services, from oncology and cardiac care to behavioral health and emergency medicine. The facility combines a small-town atmosphere with sophisticated technology commonly found in large urban hospitals. John Randolph is part of the HCA Richmond Health System, the largest healthcare provider and largest private employer in the Richmond metropolitan area. The Cardiac Care services include noninvasive and minimally invasive diagnostics, cardiac catheterization, stress tests and a cardiac rehab program certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Oncology Services offers individualized treatment protocols accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, outpatient infusion, chemotherapy, as well as inpatient and surgical services. The ICU/CCU offers eICU WATCH for critical patients, a patient-monitoring system also available at HCA hospitals throughout the Richmond region. The 24-hour Emergency Room offers two distinct treatment areas – a Fast Track designed for non-emergent concerns and an acute section for more serious injury and illness.