Try: As a health care representative or agent on behalf of a Care recipient (cr) by virtue of a healthcare or medical power of attorney you can make decisions and take actions that the cr would normally make or do if able these include receiving the same medical information that the cr would receive you should have access to the cr’s medical records and any information you need about the cr’s health or health care if this becomes a problem you may have to contact the medical facility’s privacy officer for assistance asking questions and getting explanations about treatment options and choices requesting consultations and second opinions from other physicians making decisions as to whether to transfer the cr to another doctor or facility consenting to or refusing medical tests or treatments including life-sustaining treatment requiring medical professionals to communicate with the cr if he or she is able to understand here are eight things that you as a health care representative or agent can do to obtain good care advance preparation discuss options and preferences with the cr before decisions may become necessary what is important to the cr in making these healthcare decisions make yourself and your role known to the medical staff have advance directives in place and in the medical file make sure that the health care providers are aware of the contents have a copy with you also stay informed as to the patient’s medical condition and any changes that take place identify someone who can best keep you informed and up to date and keep notes try to make sure that someone is taking full responsibility for the care of the cr even though there may be several physicians involved in the care insist that one person be given overall responsibility to manage the care during the entire period to provide continuity keep other family members informed even though you may have the legal authority for care keeping others in the family informed may make you feel more comfortable in carrying out this authority anticipate changes and transfers make sure that when the cr is moved either within the hospital or to another facility that you are kept informed as to the treatments that are going to be continued or begun after the transfer be an assertive advocate on the cr’s behalf some health care providers may or may not be comfortable with your involvement you may disagree with either the provider’s recommendations or the facility itself disagreeing with medical professionals or institutional authorities can be difficult be tactful and calm but assertive be insistent that medical issues be explained in terms that you can understand and if you feel that you are not being heard ask for help from the facility’s patient representative social worker clergy or spiritual advisor ethics committee or ethics consultant consider retaining the help of a professional care manager he or she can help you understand the medical record attend care conferences and advise you if the care is deficient or inappropriate information references adapted from a guide for health care representatives – law office of monica doerr
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Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support, Communication, Legal, Medical Physical, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision
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Keywords: Healthcare agent or healthcare representative professional care manager healthcare or medical power of attorney
*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed