The New Jersey Department of Health issued a comprehensive statement concerning triage and the care of COVID-19 patients in different kinds of licensed health care facilities. This is one among many directives issued in the past six weeks. Read the directive here: FinalAllocationPolicy4.11.20v2
As the patient is being treated, many decisions need to be made along the way, often in rapid-fire fashion. The patient may not be able to communicate or make decisions. It is very important that patients or potential patients have a signed Advance Directive, or Health Care Power of Attorney (proxy) so that if the patient loses his or her capacity to make medical decisions, they have an authorized person who can communicate with the medical professionals as critical decisions need to be made. Certain treatment will be rendered automatically as a response to the patient’s emergency, but in areas where choices and decisions need to be made, it’s vital that there be a designated person. A well-written advance directive will be explicit and reasonably easy to interpret. Whenever possible, naming several back-ups to the primary Health Care Representative (decision-maker) is preferable because if the primary person cannot be reached or has become ill, having a backup to make a crucial decision is vital. If the patient is incapacitated, it would be their representative who has the discussions with the doctor or nurse pertaining to filling out the POLST form — Physician’s Orders Concerning Life Sustaining treatment — which is now a regular part of hospital practice..
We will continue to monitor developments that affect the delivery of crucial health care to our clients If you have concerns or a problem, call for a telephone consultation with one of our attorneys…. 732-382-6070