How do medical personnel know when to access the Registry?
Each registrant is given labels to place on their insurance card and driver’s license stating that they are registered, and a wallet card listing their Registration number. However, medical personnel do not need to see these labels or card in order to utilize the Registry. Health care providers can contact the Registry by telephone (1-800-LIV-WILL) or via the Internet to check to see if ANY patient has an advance directive. If the social security number of the patient in question is not available, Registry personnel can do a search by name to see if the patient has an advance directive registered. Because the Registry provides emergency contact information as well as advance directives, hospitals can use the Registry in order to reach the family members of unconscious or incoherent patients who are unable to communicate when admitted.
