Media Alert: Qualidigm to Host Call-to-Action Public Awareness Event at Connecticut State Capitol on National Healthcare Decisions Day

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Qualidigm to host public awareness event in Hartford, Conn. on April 16th in honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day

Wethersfield, CT (PRWEB) April 14, 2014

What: On the occasion of National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16, Qualidigm CEO Tim Elwell will moderate a multi-interdisciplinary panel of state, national, community and healthcare leaders who will join their voices and resources to educate the public about the importance of advance care planning, including "advance directives."

Why: Despite the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990, which affirmed the right of every U.S. citizen 18 or older to declare one's healthcare wishes through an advance directive, estimates show that only one-quarter of Americans have done so. This means that millions of Americans have yet to plan their medical, personal, emotional and spiritual needs for their final life-stage. The ramifications are significant since studies also show that about 70 percent of Americans will be unable to make medical decisions for themselves at some point in their life. This begs the question: Who will speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself due to illness or injury? Having advance care plans offers assurance that one's wishes will be followed in case of an unforeseen event, and gives loved ones executing plans complete confidence that they are 'doing the right thing.'

Who: Featured Keynote: Congressman John Larson (D-CT)

•      Moderator: Qualidigm CEO Tim Elwell
• Remarks: Katherine K. Lewis, deputy commissioner, State of Connecticut Department of Public Health
• Kate McEvoy, director of Health Services, Connecticut Department of Social Services
• Anne Elwell, Qualidigm vice president, Community Relations, representing the Connecticut Partners for Health, a 40-member healthcare stakeholder organization convened by Qualidigm
• Stephen P. Kiernan, award-winning journalist and author of Last Rights -- Rescuing the End of Life from the Medical System

Where: State of Connecticut Capitol Building, Old Judiciary Room, Senate Level (third floor)

When: Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 12:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M.

For more information about advance care planning, go to http://www.nhdd.org or to this Connecticut Department of Public Health advance directive form: http://ct.gov/ag/lib/ag/health/advdirectivescombinedform2006alt.pdf.

About Qualidigm:

Based in Wethersfield, Conn., Qualidigm's mission is to advance the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of healthcare to achieve better health, better healthcare and the best value for patients. Qualidigm provides consulting services to public and private sector clients throughout Connecticut and across the nation. These services include Consulting, Data Analysis, Health Information Technology, Patient Safety, Quality Improvement and Utilization Review. For 30 years, Qualidigm has served as the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for the State of Connecticut under contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In this capacity, Qualidigm is charged with protecting the rights of Medicare beneficiaries and improving the safety and quality of care they receive. Qualidigm is also a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) as designated by the State of Connecticut. http://www.Qualidigm.org.

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