How it Works:

• People register their advance directive and/or organ donor information by registering through a member Health Care Provider, Partner or directly through the Registry.  Some member Providers and Partners offer the service free of charge to their patients, clients, members, employees and the public.  They complete a Registration Agreement that gives the Registry permission to send a copy of their document to any authorized provider.  Once registered, you are registered for life.  The Registry agrees not to release your information to any party other than health care providers, so your personal information is kept private and confidential, just like a medical record.
   

• The document is electronically stored in the Registry's computer along with the registrant's emergency contact information.
   

• The registrant is sent confirmation of their registration and labels to affix to their insurance card & driver's license, stating that their advance directive is registered, and a wallet card listing their Registration #.
   

• The registrant is contacted annually by mail to confirm that the advance directive has not been changed or revoked, and to update personal and emergency contact information.  The registrant makes any changes to personal or emergency contact information, signs the letter confirming that their advance directive has not been changed or revoked, and mails the letter back to the Registry.  The date of confirmation is listed on the new wallet card, and is provided whenever the document is accessed.  In this way, there is no doubt as to whether the document still represents the registrant's wishes.  This annual update is free; there is never a charge to the registrant for annual updates or for continued registration. 
   

• The Registry is funded by Health Care Providers who pay an annual fee for unlimited access to the Registry's automated system, and so that their patients are able to register documents with the Registry.  Also, Partners of the Registry (Attorneys, Financial Planners, Estate Planners, Insurance Agents, Employers, Accountants, Individual State, County or Local governments, Insurance Companies, Banks, Financial Services Companies, Veterans’ Organizations, Automobile Clubs, Internet Health Organizations/Companies, Organ Donor Organizations, Community Organizations, Religious Organizations, Retiree/Senior Organizations, etc.) pay an annual fee so their members, clients or customers can register their documents.  There are two Partner programs:  Community Partners and Professional Registrars.  Community Partners are not permitted to charge a fee to register documents.  They can limit registration to their members, clients, employees and patients if they so choose.  Professional Registrars are permitted to charge a registration assistance fee when they register a document.  For more information on these programs, click here.
   

• Health Care Providers can contact the Registry 24 hours a day to gain access to advance directives, organ donor information and emergency contact information, or simply  to inquire as to whether any patient has an advance directive.  Member health care providers can use the automated service to request documents from the Registry by telephone (1-800-LIV-WILL) or via the secure Internet web site.  Member health care providers are assigned Identification Numbers and Access Codes to use when contacting the Registry.  Providers have the option of receiving documents from the Registry by fax or via encrypted Internet transmission.  By gaining secure access to the Registry's automated system and entering the patient's  Registration # (or social security if available), health care providers can retrieve a copy of an advance directive, along with emergency contact and organ donor information in a matter of seconds.  Member providers can also search for a document by name and birth date.
   

• Health care providers that are not members of the Registry can access documents via secure Internet site, by entering the Registration # from the wallet card.  If the wallet card is not available, they can obtain the document by phone.  Non-member providers can obtain documents by contacting the Registry by phone, and providing information about their facility and about the person whose document they are trying to retrieve.  Registry personnel will perform a manual transmission of the document.