Patient Self-Determination Act and Health Care Proxies –
What Health Care Providers Should Know
Thursday, June 5, 2025
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
VIRTUAL
Seminar Description:
The Health Care Proxy law has been in effect for over 33 years, affirming every adult's moral and legal right to make their own health care decisions and to designate a substitute decision maker through a Health Care Proxy. Yet, despite ongoing efforts to educate both health care providers and the public, only one-third of adults have completed advance directives—a figure that has remained persistently unchanged.
Health care providers often face complex situations involving Health Care Proxies. To effectively support residents in making informed health care decisions, providers must have a clear understanding of how the Health Care Proxy is implemented—including when, how often, and by whom it is activated.
This workshop will focus on critical issues such as:
• Why “incapacitated” isn’t the same as “incompetent” and why it really matters.
• Determining capacity and Informed consent: Why it's important, who's involved, and how it applies to the Health Care Proxy.
• What Health Care Proxies can and cannot do.
• Who can make decisions if the resident doesn’t have a Health Care Proxy.
Objectives:
•Understand the elements involved in assessing for decision-making capacity and who can make that assessment.
•Identify alternative approaches to honoring patient autonomy and strategies to effectively implement them.
•Understand factors that may impact a resident’s health care decisions.
Presenters:
David Clarke, DMin, JD, MPH, Director, Massachusetts Health Decisions
Aimee B. Milliken, PhD, RN, HEC-C, Connell School of Nursing, Boston College
Target Audience: Directors of Nursing, Admissions Staff, Unit Managers, Nursing Supervisors, Social Work, Medical Directors
Fees: (Must be paid in full prior to attending seminar)
$25 per person - Mass Senior Care Members
$50 per person - Non-Members
CEUs: 2.0
The Massachusetts Senior Care Association has qualified for “deemed status #NH-09015-007” from the
Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators for Administrators. This program also meets
continuing education requirements for Nurses in Massachusetts.
All paid attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.
Cancellation Policy:
Mass Senior Care must be notified in writing no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the seminar for a refund, minus a $25 processing fee, which will be refunded in the manner in which the payment was made. “No Show” attendees will be billed at the full registration fee. Cancellations should be emailed to info@maseniorcare.org.
Please note: Virtual Link will be sent upon receipt of payment. If the corporate office is processing your registration, please call the Mass Senior Care office to confirm payment and registration.