Clinical Nurse Consultants Vanessa Mylett and Alice Backholm are passionate about future health care.
The pair lead the Advance Care Planning team at Logan and Beaudesert hospitals and with Advance Care Planning Week coming up, they are spreading awareness about this important health process and how it supports patients and families.
Advance care planning enables patients to think about and communicate their preferences for future healthcare, ensuring their wishes are known even if they are unable to communicate for themselves.
Specialist nurses from the Metro South Health Advance Care Planning Service support patients, families, communities and clinicians navigating the complexities of advance care planning. This support includes free community information sessions, in-person, bedside and telehealth appointments, referrals and clinical education.
“An important part of every clinician’s role is to encourage and support advance care planning conversations,” they said. “This enables patients to make choices that reflect their values and beliefs, so their care can align with what matters most to them.
“Advance care planning is about giving patients a voice. It’s not just about planning for the unexpected; it’s about peace of mind.
“Patients and their families can feel confident knowing their health care preferences are clearly communicated if they are unable to speak for themselves.”
Vanessa and Alice work closely with patients to answer their questions and explore options to document their choices using Queensland advance care planning forms such as the Advance Health Directive, Enduring Power of Attorney and Statement of Choices. These documents can help guide care and provide comfort and clarity during challenging health situations.
During Advance Care Planning Week, Vanessa and Alice encourage clinicians to take the first step with patients and start a conversation about future health care.
“It’s never too early to start planning.”
Advance Care Planning Week is 16 – 22 March. You can learn more about advance care planning, including how to contact the team, on our website.