VTAD Week 2025:
Start planning today! Vermont Advance Directive Week: April 13-19 | National Health Care Decisions Day: April 16
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Start Taking Steps
Documenting Your Healthcare Decisions
Unexpected accident or illness can strike at any time. It’s important to think about and plan for future medical decisions in case you are unable to speak for yourself. Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a set of simple steps you can take to ensure the care you desire aligns with the care you receive.
Step
1
Choose Your Person
Appoint a Health Care Agent
Your chosen health care agent can make decisions for your medical care if there comes a time when you cannot make them for yourself.
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Step
2
Make a Plan
Document Goals and Treatment Priorities
Advance Directives provide guidance for your family, friends, and health care providers in times of critical illness or serious injury.
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Step
3
Set Your Limits
Consider Medical Orders to Limit Treatment
An advance directive may not be enough to ensure that a preference to limit life-sustaining treatment will be honored in all settings. Consider talking to your clinician about medical orders and decisions at the end-of-life.
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Regional Support and Resources for Individuals and Businesses
What is the difference between an advance directive and a DNR/COLST order?
An advance directive is a legal document completed by an individual who is capable of making their own decisions. These are preference-based documents that guide care and treatment in the future if the individual is not able to speak for themselves. In your advance directive, you can appoint a healthcare agent to speak for you and describe your treatment preferences. Advance directives are not recognized by emergency first responders.
A DNR/COLST order is a medical order created through a shared decision-making process between a clinician (MD, DO, APRN, PA) and a patient. These documents require informed consent, will guide the current treatment plan, and are legally recognized by all medical providers, including emergency first responders. Consent for a DNR/COLST can be provided by someone other than the patient if the patient lacks capacity.
Advance Care Planning Overview Brochure
