PICKENS — Cannon Memorial Hospital along with the Pickens County Library System and other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making — an effort that culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).
As a participating organization, Cannon Hospital is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with South Carolina state laws. 
Starting April 16 and running through the end of the month, these resources are available at Cannon Hospital and its physician practices, plus all branches of the Pickens County Library System. 
Each library will have a display set up and free five wishes booklets and advanced directive forms, along with books and other resources concerning end of life planning.
“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Amanda Dow, director of community relations with Cannon. “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”
For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.