2019 -- H 5790

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LC001736

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S 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: Representatives Millea, Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Shekarchi, and
Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decisions Day, observed on April 16, 2019, is a national

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initiative to inspire, educate and empower the public about the importance of advance care

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planning. It is a collaborative effort of national, state, and community organizations intended to

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encourage adults of all ages to plan ahead of a health crisis; and

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     WHEREAS, The Improving Care Coalition, a project of the Rhode Island State Nurses

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Association, is the Rhode Island state liaison for National Healthcare Decisions Day at the

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Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s The Conversation Project, Cambridge, MA; and

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     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decisions Day will help Rhode Islanders understand that making

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future healthcare decisions includes much more than deciding what care they would or would not

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want; it starts with expressing preferences, clarifying values, identifying care preferences and

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selecting an agent to express healthcare decisions if patients are unable to speak for themselves;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Making healthcare decisions ahead of time and putting one's wishes in

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writing brings peace of mind to families. It helps to avoid the difficult situations that are so

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common when a person becomes seriously ill and the family is left to guess what their loved one

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would have wanted; and

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     WHEREAS, An advance directive document speaks for an individual's healthcare

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decisions if they cannot speak for themselves. Everyone needs an advocate; and

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     WHEREAS, The goal of Healthcare Decision Day is to encourage Rhode Islanders to

 

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start the conversation about advance directives with their family rather than delaying that

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discussion; and

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     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decision Day educates and empowers the public and healthcare

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providers to take part in important advance care planning and encourages patients to discuss the

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topic with their health care providers; and

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     WHEREAS, Healthcare Decision Day is an event that provides the opportunity to

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advocate for a good life that honors a person’s healthcare wishes; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April 16, 2019, to be "Health Care Decision Day" in the

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State of Rhode Island. We moreover urge and encourage all the citizens of the state to learn

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about advance care planning for themselves and their loved ones; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, Rhode Island

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Department of Health, and The Improving Care Coalition, a project of the Rhode Island State

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Nurses Association.

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LC001736

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