Why is the annual update important?
By their very nature, advance directives are prepared well in advance of when they may be needed. If a document has not been updated for several years, there could be legitimate doubts as to whether it still reflects the patient’s wishes. Hospital attorneys were concerned about the age of the advance directives they would receive from the Registry, and whether or not the documents were still valid. The Registry attempts to contact each registrant every year to confirm that their advance directive has not been changed or revoked. The date of this latest update is recorded on the coversheet sent to the provider along with the advance directive. In this way, providers can be assured that the document they receive is current, up to date, and still reflects the patient’s wishes. Personal information and Emergency Contact Information are also updated at this time.
