By Rebecca S. Sudore, M.D., and Gloria Mayer, R.N., Ed. D.
Upon the study’s
conclusion, the IHA
began communicating
to providers in
California to get
the word out about
using this
easy-to-use health
care information.
IHA was so impressed
with the study’s
results and the EASY
Ad-form that it
decided to take the
document a step
further by doing two
things. The
first was to post it
on the nonprofit
organization’s Web
site, which is
networked nationally
with many health
literacy advocacy
Web sites and
organizations.
The second was to
complete translation
of the document into
Spanish, while
retaining its low
literacy reading
level and cultural
appropriateness.
For Californians,
the Easy Advance
Directive form is a
very simple,
fill-in-the-blank
document that is
written in
“bullet-point” style
and accompanied by
illustrations.
The form is divided
into three parts:
(1) Choose a health
care agent who can
make medical
decisions for you if
you are too sick to
make them yourself;
(2) Make your own
health care choices
now so those who
care for you won’t
have to guess what
you want if you are
too sick to tell
them yourself; and
(3) A section of the
form for necessary
signatures that make
the document legally
binding.
By going to the
IHA Web site at
www.iha4health.org
and downloading the
document for their
own distribution,
health care
providers will do
much to help their
patients have a say
in the decisions
that are made about
their healthcare,
should they become
too sick or
incapable of
speaking for
themselves.
The document is free
to download, is
offered in both
English and Spanish,
and is easy to
follow and very
simple to complete.
It offers
individuals the
opportunity to make
their health care
wishes known in
advance and reduces
the risk of a
painful family
decision in the
event of a tragic
illness or injury.
Caregivers in
other states who are
interested in
generating this
document in a format
and language that is
specific to their
state’s laws are
welcome to do so.
However, if the form
is changed in order
to meet individual
state requirements,
please inform IHA
and the researchers
at SFGH-UCSF by
sending an email to
gmayer@iha4health.org.
