AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

The following article appeared on the AHA News Now web site on March 6, 2000.

Registry stores advance directives

A new service allows Americans to register advance directives, living wills and health care proxies, and hospitals to get faxed copies at no charge.  The U.S. Living Will Registry of Westfield, NJ, electronically stores advance directives and makes them available to hospitals across the nation, 24 hours a day, through an automated computer fax system.  Any hospital can call to obtain a faxed copy of the directive and emergency contact information.  A press release for the service says the service maintains patient privacy because only hospitals are allowed access to the information.  Joseph Barmakian, who founded the service, said it can help answer difficult questions about whether a patient should be placed on a ventilator, get intravenous feeding, or be considered as an organ donor.  For more information, go to http://www.uslivingwillregistry.com or call (800) LIV-WILL.