b'KNOWING OUR PATIENTS Advance Care Planning Advance care planning focuses on decision making around future medical care. By completingI have been putting this specific legal documents, patients ensure their health-related wishes are defined and shared inoff for years. Starting this advance. conversation with my provider Our goal is to make advance care planning a welcomed and expected part of the healthcareopened the door for my experience for our community, shares Elizabeth Golding, DO, Cone Health Palliative Care Medical Director. Having a conversation with our patients around their own medical goalshusband and I to have a gives our patients and their families and friends peace of mind. conversation with our kids. The According to THNs Advance Care Planning Advocate, Angela Lewis-Myers, MSW, MA, LSSBB,conversation went better than Advance care directives empower patients to make thoughtful choices about their care and prevent unwanted care.I could have ever expected. We were able to talk about In 2022, THN assisted with the creation of 11,000 advance caretheir concerns and what our planning (ACP) documents, a 41% percent increase over 2021.wishes were if something was ever to happen to us. The kids Through targeted outreach, THN educates patients and physicians on the importance ofeven said how great it was to advance directives. While providers receive training, patients benefit from informational videoshave such an open and honest and guides and free, easy-to-use online documents. conversation. In coordination with providers, THN responds to patients questions and helps them complete Advance Care Planning documents, including arranging witnesses and notary services in compliance with state law. While patients retain original documents, they can also securely store them as part of theirPatient electronic medical record. 11'