Death is an uneasy subject no one wants to think about. But for the elderly, the terminally ill and those who have dangerous occupations or hobbies, it may be wise to have an advance directive to instruct relatives and providers how to approach end-of-life care.

 

Advance directives include “Do Not Resuscitate” orders, living wills, medical powers of attorney, and physician orders for scope of treatment. Research has shown that advance directives that specify the limits in care are associated with lower spending in hospitals in regions with high end-of-life expenditures.

 

Even for the brave ones who have contemplated their passing and have composed an advanced directive, physicians and other providers may have a hard time gaining access to it in a time of emergency.

 

This is about to change for one state. West Virginia is about to fire up the first statewide electronic registry for advance directives. The password-protected system will allow providers and family members of the patient to access the advance directive online when necessary.

 

West Virginia deserves praise for this effort that marries technology and cost savings. At the same time, this database will allow providers the ability to respect a patient’s preferences for medical treatment if he or she is incapacitated.

 

Too often, technology is perceived as being overly-expensive. Not so in this case. New York is the only other state to have a similar system in the works. More states should look toward these examples if they’re looking to reduce spending. And who isn’t these days?