The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making?an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of today, April 16, 2009 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, The Spaulding Rehabiltiation Network and Partners HealthCare is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Massachusetts state laws. These resources are available at www.spauldingrehab.org and www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

'As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,' said Tim Sullivan, Director of Communications, SRN. 'Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.'

For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.