A special workshop is planned in the East Prince Health area to help the public and key people who work in health care better understand the issue of health care directives and their value for individuals, families and the community.
Reverend Charles Wagner, Chaplain for East Prince Health states, "A health care directive does three things. The directive assures your right to guide your health care, it sets the rules for substitute decision making if you are unable to participate in that decision-making process. It also allows you to give instructions about your health care and to ask another person (proxy) to make decisions on your behalf in case you become incapable of making decisions. "
Reverend Carolyn MacLeod, Chair of the East Prince Health Pastoral Care Advisory Committee, added, "The important process in a health directive is the conversation people have with their loved ones. It is important to carefully consider the person people choose to speak for their wishes should they ever be in a situation of incompetency."
Those who work with clients who undertake a health care directive understand that in people's daily lives, they plan their days as best they can. However, it is recognized that people experience those times when the unexpected comes up and their plan for the day has completely changed.
Reverend MacLeod recognizes that people may realize that eventually there will be a time of unexpected death or a process of an illness which will lead to death. "Most people do not want to even contemplate that death will be a part of their life story," said Reverend Wagner. "This is especially true for those people who have never had any significant illness which could lead to death. Planning can help ease the burden of this difficult time."
This is the reason the Health Care Directives workshop is planned — to help people discuss these issues and consider the positives and the barriers related to creating effective healthcare directives for individuals in the community.
The Workshop is planned for Wednesday, September 25th from 7 to 9 p.m. at Trinity United Church Hall, 90 Spring Street in Summerside. There will be a variety of panelists from various aspects of healthcare including: Dr. Connie Hoare, Medical Internist Specialist at PCH; Donna Gallant, RN, PCH Emergency Department; Chaplain Charles Wagner, East Prince Health; Dr. Wassim Salamoun, PCH Ethics Committee Representative; and Linda Stewart, Home Care and Rural Palliative Care Program.
There will be a question and answer period following the panel presentations and discussion. Participation in the workshop is through advance registration only. To register call Reverend Charles Wagner at 888-9160 or e-mail: cwwagner@ihis.org or Marina Trainor at 888-9130 or e-mail: mctrainor@ihis.org. Registration is limited to 75 seats.