R 169

2019 -- S 0641 Enacted 03/26/2019

S E N A T 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: Senator Michael J. McCaffrey

Date Introduced: March 21, 2019

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 Senate 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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LC001522

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