Downloads
The documents linked on this page are relevant to maintaining a personal healthcare notebook and preparing advanced directives should you, or someone you are caring for should become incapacitated. It is recommended that all forms on this page should be reviewed with one’s doctor and/or an attorney where appropriate.
Recommended Forms:
Vial of Life
Completing and keeping a Vial of Life medical documents package involves compiling essential medical information such as medical history, current medications, allergies, and emergency contacts in a visible location in one’s home, typically in a vial or folder in the refrigerator. The purpose of this package is to provide immediate access to critical health information for emergency responders and healthcare professionals during a medical crisis, ensuring quick and informed decision-making that can potentially save lives by reducing treatment delays and improving patient care outcomes. This initiative enhances emergency preparedness and promotes patient advocacy by empowering individuals to communicate their health needs effectively in urgent situations.
Download from vialoflife.com
Medications List
Maintaining a medications list document provides a comprehensive record of all medications a person is currently taking, including dosage and frequency. This document ensures accurate and timely medical care by enabling doctors and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to quickly assess potential drug interactions, allergies, and underlying health conditions, leading to more informed treatment decisions. It serves as a crucial tool for improving patient safety, continuity of care, and efficiency in emergency situations, ultimately enhancing medical outcomes and reducing risks associated with medication management.
Pre-Appointment Questionnaire
Completing a pre-appointment questionnaire helps doctors understand your medical history, current issues, and concerns before your visit, saving time and ensuring more focused and effective appointments. It allows for better communication, reduces the risk of medical errors, and ensures that treatments and advice are tailored to your specific needs, ultimately improving the quality of care you receive.
Advanced Directives:
Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA)
A healthcare power of attorney document appoints a trusted person (the healthcare proxy) to make medical decisions on behalf of an individual if they are unable to do so due to illness or incapacity. It serves the purpose of ensuring that medical choices align with the person’s values and preferences when they cannot communicate their wishes directly, providing a legal framework for healthcare decisions during critical or end-of-life situations. This document is crucial for ensuring that the individual’s healthcare wishes are upheld and respected according to their own desires and beliefs.
Download from the South Carolina Department of Aging:
- SC Power of Attorney Form (.PDF)
Living Will
A living will is a legal document that outlines a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care if they become incapacitated and unable to communicate. It serves the purpose of guiding healthcare decisions, ensuring that the individual’s preferences for treatments like life support or resuscitation are respected during serious illness or at the end of life, providing clarity and peace of mind to both the individual and their loved ones.
Download from the South Carolina Department of Aging:
- SC Living Will Form (.PDF)
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form is a legal document that instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the individual’s heart stops beating or they stop breathing. The benefit of a DNR form is that it allows individuals to make their end-of-life preferences clear, potentially avoiding unwanted medical interventions and maintaining dignity in their final moments. However, a disadvantage could be the emotional challenge of making such decisions, as well as the need for clear communication with healthcare providers to ensure the form is properly understood and followed in critical situations.
Download from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC):
- South Carolina – South Carolina Do Not Resuscitate Order Form (on white paper)
- North Carolina – DNR / MOST Goldenrod Forms (on bright gold paper)
Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST)
A Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form is a medical document that outlines specific medical interventions and preferences for treatment in accordance with a patient’s current health condition and wishes. The benefit of a POST form is that it provides clear, actionable guidance to healthcare providers about the level of medical care desired by the individual, particularly in emergency situations or end-of-life care, ensuring treatments align closely with their preferences. However, a potential disadvantage is that it requires ongoing communication and updating as medical conditions change, and there may be variability in how POST forms are recognized and honored across different healthcare settings.