Advance Directives are instructions for your health care providers. They express your beliefs and wishes on important issues related to “lifesaving” care.

This document is intended to be used if you are unable to communicate your choices. The best time to create your Advance Directives is before you enter the hospital.

Advance Care Planning can be done with a family member or a staff member. Valley Regional Hospital’s Case Management Department can provide you with assistance in preparing your plan.

The attached booklet, Advanced Care Planning*, will help you understand the issues and documents that comprise a plan. You may download, view, or print this booklet.

For questions about Advance Directives, call Valley Regional Hospital’s Case management Department at 542-3442.

Ethics Committee
There may be a time when you are called on to make a decision about healthcare for yourself or for a loved one. This can be a confusing, frightening or painful task. Increased understanding among patients, families and healthcare providers may lessen your fears and help relieve the burden that such difficult decision-making may cause. Valley Regional Hospital has an Ethics Committee to help you in such circumstances.

The Ethics Committee is a group of people who are prepared to listen and respond to you. They can help get all the facts you need to make a decision, and they can offer feedback and suggestions. They will never come up with a final answer or tell you what to do, however, they have been educated in medical ethics and can bring their ideas together. To get in touch with the Ethics Committee please dial (603) 542-3414.

* File is in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview or Safari (for Mac users) is required to view a pdf file. To get Acrobat Reader free, visit the Adobe website.