2019 -- H 5790

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LC001736

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL 16, 2019, TO THE "HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY" IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Millea, Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Shekarchi, and
Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decisions Day, observed on April 16, 2019, is a national

initiative to inspire, educate and empower the public about the importance of advance care

planning. It is a collaborative effort of national, state, and community organizations intended to

encourage adults of all ages to plan ahead of a health crisis; and

     WHEREAS, The Improving Care Coalition, a project of the Rhode Island State Nurses

Association, is the Rhode Island state liaison for National Healthcare Decisions Day at the

Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s The Conversation Project, Cambridge, MA; and

     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decisions Day will help Rhode Islanders understand that making

future healthcare decisions includes much more than deciding what care they would or would not

want; it starts with expressing preferences, clarifying values, identifying care preferences and

selecting an agent to express healthcare decisions if patients are unable to speak for themselves;

and

     WHEREAS, Making healthcare decisions ahead of time and putting one's wishes in

writing brings peace of mind to families. It helps to avoid the difficult situations that are so

common when a person becomes seriously ill and the family is left to guess what their loved one

would have wanted; and

     WHEREAS, An advance directive document speaks for an individual's healthcare

decisions if they cannot speak for themselves. Everyone needs an advocate; and

     WHEREAS, The goal of Healthcare Decision Day is to encourage Rhode Islanders to

start the conversation about advance directives with their family rather than delaying that

discussion; and

     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decision Day educates and empowers the public and healthcare

providers to take part in important advance care planning and encourages patients to discuss the

topic with their health care providers; and

     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decision Day is an event that provides the opportunity to

advocate for a good life that honors a person’s healthcare wishes; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April 16, 2019, to be "Health Care Decision Day" in the

State of Rhode Island. We moreover urge and encourage all the citizens of the state to learn

about advance care planning for themselves and their loved ones; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, Rhode Island

Department of Health, and The Improving Care Coalition, a project of the Rhode Island State

Nurses Association.

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LC001736

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