Free Advance Directive Services from Reedsburg Area Medical Center

REEDSBURG, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Reedsburg Area Medical Center has announced free Advance Directive Services.

An Advance Directive is a legal written document that outlines your wishes for medical treatment if you are not able to make decisions yourself. It also allows you to appoint a person, often called a healthcare power of attorney or agent, to make healthcare decisions on your behalf.

Having an Advance Directive is even more important in Wisconsin, because Wisconsin is not a “next-of-kin” state. Wisconsin law does not allow family members to make decisions for incapacitated family members. As a general rule, spouses are not allowed to make decisions for each other, and parents are not able to make decisions for their adult children, and vice versa.

If an adult has not designated someone to be their healthcare agent, their loved one would have to go through the court system to pursue becoming a legal guardian for them. This can be a long and sometimes costly process.

Completing an Advance Directive is a process that staff at Reedsburg Area Medical Center can help you accomplish. It requires a little bit of time, and some conversations with your loved ones. RAMC offers this service free of charge.

Some upcoming openings for appointments are on the following Thursday dates: Nov. 6 from 10-11 a.m., Nov. 20 from 3-4 p.m., Dec. 4 from 10-11 a.m., and Dec. 18 from 3-4 p.m. Call 608-524-6487 to schedule an appointment with an Advance Directive Facilitator.

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