#USA #Miramar #Advance Care Planning #VITAS Healthcare #Florida Hospital Association

Empowering Advance Care Planning: A Collaborative Webinar

This week, VITAS Healthcare joined forces with the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) to host a vital educational webinar aimed at enhancing discussions surrounding advance care planning throughout Florida. Scheduled for Thursday, April 16, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM ET, the live virtual event, titled "Real Conversations About Advance Care Planning: Voices from a Caregiver, Primary Care Physician, and Frontline Healthcare Team," aims to address pressing issues in healthcare.

Significance of Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is a critical process that helps align medical treatments with a patient's preferences and values. Unfortunately, the use of advance directives in Florida has been insufficient, leading to inconsistently documented patient wishes in medical settings. This webinar is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the tools they need to integrate these essential conversations into their routine care practices.

Dr. Joseph Shega, the Chief Medical Officer at VITAS Healthcare, will moderate the session. He emphasizes the importance of understanding patient values when making significant medical decisions. "Clinicians frequently face high-stakes choices without sufficient insight into the patient's priorities," Shega states. "Our goal is to bridge this gap by instilling advance care conversations into the daily routine and ensuring those preferences are recorded and communicated effectively. This webinar will provide Florida-specific strategies that healthcare professionals can implement immediately."

Learning Opportunities and Perspectives

This engaging webinar presents a unique opportunity for healthcare providers to earn 1.5 free CME/CE credits while learning from experts across various fields. Participants will hear perspectives from caregivers, health system administrators, and physicians based in Florida, each sharing practical insights and clinical experiences related to advance directives and surrogate decision-making.

"Advance care planning is foundational to quality, ethical healthcare. Unfortunately, these conversations often occur too late or are overlooked entirely," adds Mary C. Mayhew, the President of the Florida Hospital Association. By convening clinicians and healthcare leaders, the webinar aims to transform advance care planning from a mere procedural requirement into a meaningful dialogue that resonates with both patients and their families during crucial moments.

Target Audience

The program is open to a broad range of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, case managers, social workers, hospital administrators, and hospice clinicians practicing in Florida. This diverse audience can benefit from the wealth of perspectives and real-world scenarios shared during the session.

Registration Details

To participate in this essential discussion on advance care planning, interested individuals must register at VITAS.com/Webinars. By attending this webinar, participants will not only enhance their knowledge but also contribute to the broader goal of cohesive and patient-centered healthcare implementation across Florida.

About VITAS Healthcare

VITAS Healthcare stands as the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, delivering compassionate hospice and palliative services to seriously ill patients and their families for nearly 50 years. Based in Miramar, Florida, VITAS operates in 59 service areas across 15 states and Washington, D.C., providing care to over 22,000 patients daily, primarily in their homes, but also in inpatient hospice settings, hospitals, and assisted living communities. With a dedicated team of almost 12,000 employees, VITAS has been recognized in the industry for its commitment to quality care, earning the title of a Top Workplace in Healthcare for 2025.

About Florida Hospital Association

Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association has been the leading advocate for healthcare in the state. By providing representation, education, and advocacy, FHA supports its member institutions’ missions to deliver high-quality care to the communities they serve. With over 260 hospitals and health systems as members, the FHA continues to influence healthcare policy and drive improvements across Florida's healthcare landscape. The organization is headquartered in Tallahassee and is governed by a Board of Trustees elected from its membership.

For media inquiries, please reach out to [email protected] or call 877-848-2701 for further information.