Advance care planning (ACP) is sharing your health care values, preferences, and instructions in case you can’t communicate them for yourself.
Use this website to explore more about ACP, ACP documents, how they are used, how to get started, and where to find further training and resources.
If you can’t find an answer to your question on these pages, please contact us here.
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is about prioritizing your voice and your wishes and preparing those around you before a medical or mental health emergency happens. These conversations can happen formally, especially with a qualified advance directive facilitator, healthcare provider or lawyer, but often happen very informally among family and friends, even while watching TV or the news or when someone close to you experiences a medical procedure or diagnosis. ACP is the umbrella under which many formal documents, like Advance Directives can live.
Advance care planning (ACP) is for all adults, regardless of age or current physical or mental health health diagnoses. ACP documents like advance directives are also for all people. However, some ACP documents like Do not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST), and other medical orders can also be appropriate for some people at different stages of medical planning.
Talking to your loved ones and healthcare providers about what types of medical treatments or interventions you want, or don’t want, to receive if you cannot speak for yourself is a gift that will help them work alongside medical providers if they are ever called on to make those decisions on your behalf. Studies have shown the benefits to patients (you!), as well as loved ones and even the care team, when advance directives and ACP conversations have taken place.
