News & Articles

My Care Decisions: Credit Card-Size CD Allows Patients to Keep Living Wills and Other Important Legal Documents with Them Wherever They Go
Fewer than 25 percent of Americans have an advance directive, more commonly known as a living will. And even for those who do, it is not always readily available when needed. In response, Florida Hospital’s Center for Health Futures has developed “My CD,” which stands for “My Care Decisions.” It is an electronic advance directive people can carry with them to let physicians and family know precisely how they want decisions about their healthcare handled.

Individuals simply log on to a secure Web site to access their Care Decisions booklet, complete the online forms and create their customized CD. The My CD program scans their personal healthcare instructions such as religious preferences and decisions about life support, on a pocket-sized compact disc that fits easily into a wallet or purse. This allows individuals to carry it along wherever they go and readily access the information in an emergency situation. In fact, the CD can be used at any hospital or location in the world.

Florida Hospital’s Vice President and Medical Director of Hospital Medical Management Ross Edmundson, M.D. and Center for Health Futures Executive Director and Senior Research Fellow Richard Bogue, Ph.D., designed My CD after too often witnessing situations where families struggled with medical decisions, and patients wishes were not carried out because a living will could not be found or did not exist.

“We recognized that we did not have a reliable, adequate mechanism for making sure patients with advanced directives had them available,” said Dr. Edmundson. “My CD allows people to assert their independence and express their desires even if they are unable to speak for themselves. We felt that it was important to provide the community with this important tool, and encourage people of all ages to begin talking about these vital healthcare decisions.”

The Center for Health Futures received grant from CHiC and the Winter Park Health Foundation to develop and manufacture My CD and has been working with community groups like Hospice of the Comforter to spread the word about its availability. CDs are available for $5. Bulk rates are also available: $4.50 for 50 to 99 or $4 for 100 or more. In addition, the information and CDs are available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Haitian Creole.

To learn more, visit www.mycaredecisions.com or call 1-888-616-8773.