DENTON, TEXAS, November 12, 2014 – Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton and the Denton Area Partnership for End of Life Care (DAPEC) will be hosting Denton Decision Days on Friday, Nov. 14, at the hospital. The free event will provide community members the opportunity to learn about advance directives and how to set up a medical power of attorney.
“Having been a nurse for 17 years, I think the common feeling is that people do not want to talk about planning for medical crisis because it makes them feel scared or sad,” said Owen Buntyn, R.N., certified hospice and palliative care nurse and manager of palliative care services at Texas Health Denton. “But the majority of patients I’ve seen who are in a health crisis are unable to make their own needs known. Taking a few minutes to fill out advanced directives can ensure that you, as the patient, have your wishes honored and the people who love and support you have peace of mind about how they represent you through the process. The reality is that advanced directives are as specific and individualized as the person who fills them out.”
The session begins with a 30-minute presentation about advance directives and medical power of attorney. Experts will be available for individual discussion afterward, and attendees will receive forms to complete a living will and a medical power of attorney. Notaries and witnesses will be available to finalize documents at no cost, and all attendees are asked to bring photo identification.
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Location: Rio Grande Conference Room
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
3000 N. I-35 Highway
Denton, TX 76201
“Denton Decision Days is an opportunity to get your advanced directives and medical power of attorney completed so that you can have peace of mind knowing that your desires will be followed when you cannot speak for yourself,” said Trish Matthews, chaplain at Texas Health Denton.
“Take advantage of this great opportunity to proactively choose who advocates for you in a medical crisis if you are unable to do so,” said Denton Mayor Chris Watts. “Your loved ones will be glad you did."
For more information about DAPEC, contact Ginny Hudson at DAPEC@aol.com or 940-367-0598.
For more information on the hospital, visit www.TexasHealth.org/Denton.
About the Denton Area Partnership for End-of-Life Care
The Denton Area Partnership for End-of-Life Care is a not for profit 501©3 organization, affiliated with the Denton Foundation for Health Education. The mission of DAPEC is to improve end-of-life care for all communities and cultures in the Denton area.
About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton is a 255-bed acute-care, full-service hospital that has served North Texas and southern Oklahoma since 1987. The hospital’s services include: heart and vascular; a Level III neonatal intensive care unit; a pediatric unit; orthopedics and sports medicine; neck, spine and pain management; emergency medicine; an accredited sleep center; women’s services; and a weight loss surgery program that has been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. As one of the largest employers in Denton County, Texas Health Denton has more than 900 employees and more than 300 physicians on the medical staff practicing in more than 45 specialties. Texas Health Denton is an accredited chest pain center, and is certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and designated by the State of Texas as a Primary Stroke Facility. Texas Health Denton is an affiliate of Texas Health Resources, one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health care delivery systems in the United States.
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