Comprehensive patient-centred, culturally diverse care for patients and their families wishing to discuss their medical and psycho-social decision-making plans for their future care. In addition to our clinical service, we are actively involved in research, governance and education for staff at Northern Health and the wider community.
The Northern Health approach to Advance Care Planning is called ‘A C P in 3-steps’. It is a simple way to understand and do Advance Care Planning.
A. Appoint Another
You can appoint the person you want to be your Medical Treatment Decision Maker
C. Chat and Communicate
Speak with your Medical Treatment Decision Maker, family/friends and health professionals about what is important to you
P. Put it on Paper
You may wish to write down in an Advance Care Directive what you want others to know when making future medical decisions for you
What to expect from the service?
Advance Care Planning is planning ahead, while you are able, in case there is ever a time when you are too ill, or not able, perhaps due to an accident, to make your own medical treatment decisions.
It is asking and answering:
- Who would make decisions for you?
and - Would they know what you would want?
We can help Patients and Consumers:
- With Information about Advance Care Planning
- With assistance to complete Advance Care Planning Documents. We would send you back to your doctor, for the signing and witnessing. This could be your General Practitioner or specialist.
We can provide education about Advance Care Planning to:
- Community groups, such as those run by local council
- Retirement Villages
- Residential Aged Care Facilities
- Non-Northern Health Clinicians
We mainly work with people in the Northern Health catchment areas of Hume, Whittlesea & Mitchell.