The Alexian Brothers Health System will be participating in awareness program for National Healthcare Decisions Day. This will be held on Monday, April 16.

While making healthcare decisions is often difficult in the best circumstances, making decisions for others is even more complicated. Each of us has the ability to guide our healthcare providers and our loved ones about what we want. Advance directives give you the ability to document the types of healthcare you do and do not want, and to name an "agent" to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself.

With the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990, the U.S. Congress affirmed the right of every citizen to set forth his or her future healthcare wishes in writing with an "advance directive." Yet, various estimates suggest that only 25 percent of all Americans have done so. Because advance directives can be created without a lawyer, for free, and relatively easily, this figure is astonishingly low. In recognition of this, National Healthcare Decisions Day strives to provide much-needed information to the public, reduce the number of tragedies that occur when a person's wishes are unknown, and improve the ability of healthcare facilities and providers to offer informed and thoughtful guidance about advance healthcare planning to the community.

Free information and a copy of "Five Wishes" will be available at:

St. Alexius Medical Center
April 16 in the Bettendorf Pavilion
1555 Barrington Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
Questions: call 847-303-7989

Alexian Brothers Medical Center
April 10 in the Eberle Lobby
800 Biesterfield Road
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Questions: call 847-981-3693

Join National Healthcare Decisions Day ... Because Your Decisions Matter.