What are Advance Directives?

Advance directives are legal, written instructions that provide your preferences for life-sustaining medical care if you are ever unable to make decisions for yourself due to serious injury, illness, or coma.

Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it’s important for all adults to prepare these documents.

Advance Directive Forms

Please let us know if you have any of the following advance directive orders:

  • A Power of Attorney for Health Care permits you, the patient, to designate an "agent" to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you are unable to.
  • A Living Will allows you to indicate whether you want death-delaying procedures used if you have a terminal illness. A terminal illness is an incurable and irreversible condition in which death is imminent.
  • A POLST allows your physician to write an order stating what death-delaying treatments (like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)) you wish to have, if any, if your heart and/or breathing stops.

We will keep a copy of these important documents in your records.

If you need help completing these forms or have questions about Advance Directives in general, please contact your healthcare provider’s office or FHN’s Advance Directive Hotline at (815) 599-7080.


What are Psychiatric Advance Directives (PAD)?

  • A Psychiatric Advance Directives (PAD) gives us the opportunity to self-direct your care when you are not able to speak on your own behalf.
  • By completing an Illinois State PAD form, it will enhance provider treatment because providers will know exactly what treatment you prefer.
  • The PAD form is a legal form that allows individuals to refuse or give consent to future psychiatric treatment.

 

Listen to Dr. Pedersen, FHN Family Physician and Chief Quality Officer, talk about Advance Directives on the Dial-a-Doc radio program.

Listen to Dr. Martin, former FHN Chief Medical Officer, talk about Advance Directives on the Talk of the Town radio program.



Documents

English

Power of Attorney for Healthcare
Statement of Illinois Law on Advance Directives
Declaration for Mental Health Treatment
Practitioner Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Form
Frequently Asked Questions about Advance Directives
Health Information Authorization Form

en español

Poder para la Atención de la Salud
Formulario Uniforme De Órdenes Médicas Para Tratamiento De Soporte Vital (POLST)
Preguntas frecuentes sobre directivas anticipadas
Formulario de autorización de información médica