St. Francis Hospice event informs public about advance health care decisions

INDIANAPOLIS – St. Francis Hospice is leading an effort to educate the public about the importance of having advance health care directives.

That’s why it is coordinating an event Thursday, April 16, at St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis. Hospice staff will be joined by St. Francis nurses, social workers and chaplains, along with representatives from Rose Commons, Forest Creek Commons, Right at Home, an attorney specializing in health care law and a notary public.

The event coincides with the National Health Care Decisions Day, designed to raise awareness and the importance of advance care planning.

Advance health care directives instructions given by individuals specifying what actions should be taken for their health in the event that they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.

"Our ultimate goal is to provide much-needed information to the public and reduce the number of problems that occur when a patient’s wishes are unknown and to enhance the ability of health-care facilities and provides to offer their patients and their families informed and thoughtful guidance," said Monica Burkhart-Negri, R.N., community liaison at St. Francis Hospice.

The event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby. St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis is located at 8111 S. Emerson Ave.