Talk Turkey
An Advance Directive Campaign
Since 1999, the BIDMC Ethics Support Service and the Social Work department have led an annual medical center-wide Thanksgiving week program-"Talk Turkey"- to increase both staff and patient awareness of the importance of Advance Directives. In Massachusetts, we use an Advance Directive which provides for the designation of a Health Care Proxy or agent.
A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that names the person you have chosen to express your health care wishes. This "proxy"-also called your health care "agent"-is recognized under Massachusetts law as the person who can speak for you regarding health care decisions. If your doctor makes a determination that you are no longer able to communicate your wishes about your care, your health care providers will ask you health care agent to be your voice. Often, this person is a family member or close friend. Ideally, it is someone who knows your personal wishes, values, and beliefs as well. It is someone you can trust to make the same health care decisions you would make if you could. Choosing this person before he or she is needed can help you feel confident that you will always be treated according to your own values.
During the three days leading up to Thanksgiving each year, BIDMC Ethics Liaisons, Social Work staff, and other volunteers distribute advance directive kits to staff and patients during lunch time hours-with the overall theme of "It's Time to Talk Turkey." In 2008 approximately 1,600 advance directives kits were handed out. The response has been highly enthusiastic with many staff reporting that they used the kit they had received.
Additional efforts to promote advance directives include improving on-line documentation and tracking of advance directives so that they are readily-accessible when needed, and possible use of the inpatient video channel as an educational tool.
If you would like a Health Care Proxy form or more information about Advance Directives, please contact the office of Ethics Support Service at 617-667-3095.
