How is advance care planning different from advance directives?

Advance care planning is the process. Advance directives usually are the written documents that provide information about the patient’s wishes and/or her designated spokesperson. Verbal directives may be ethically valid, but most patients and health care providers prefer written documentation in the form of official forms. If official forms are not used, health care providers should document the result of their advance care planning conversations in a medical record progress note.

Advance care planning is the process. Advance directives usually are the written documents that provide information about the patient’s wishes and/or her designated spokesperson. Verbal directives may be ethically valid, but most patients and health care providers prefer written documentation in the form of official forms. If official forms are not used, health care providers should document the result of their advance care planning conversations in a medical record progress note.