Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is an ongoing process of thinking about, talking about and sharing what matters most to you as it relates to your health care. It’s about making sure your care reflects your goals, values and priorities—now and in the future.

Your everyday life helps shape what the right care looks like for you. That might include maintaining independence, spending time with loved ones, staying comfortable, honoring spiritual or cultural beliefs, or continuing the activities that give your life meaning. Sharing these priorities helps your care team recommend treatment options that truly fit your life.

Whether you are at the beginning of your treatment or have been in care for some time, it’s never too early—or too late—to talk about what matters most to you.

Why planning ahead matters

Your goals and preferences may change over time, especially as your health or circumstances change. Advance care planning gives you the space to reflect, talk openly and revisit decisions as needed.

When your wishes are known and documented, your care team and loved ones have clear guidance if you are ever unable to speak for yourself. Many patients find that planning ahead is a meaningful way to care for their family—reducing uncertainty and stress during difficult moments.

How to make your health care preferences known

Reflect on what matters to you.
Think about what gives your life meaning, what abilities are important for your quality of life, and the people who matter most to you. Consider how health care decisions might affect these areas.

Talk with your loved ones.
Sharing your wishes early and revisiting them over time helps everyone understand what’s important to you. It’s also important to identify someone you trust to make decisions for you if you aren’t able to make them yourself. Make sure this person is willing to make decisions for you if needed and that they know what's important to you in your care choices. Don’t assume anything. 

Share your preferences with your care team.
Once you have identified your priorities, it is important to share them with your care team. MD Anderson is working with Koda Health, a secure tool available through MyChart, to support advance care planning and make communication easier—with your loved ones and your care team.

The Koda platform guides you through questions and topics so you can think about your goals and preferences. Then you can document your choices in a way that can be shared with your loved ones and care team. Your responses help your care team better understand your wishes and support more meaningful, values-based discussions over time.

You can return to Koda at any point to update your information as your health, life or priorities change. If you choose, it also helps you complete and store your advance directives in MyChart.

Through Koda, you will be able to complete advance directives, including:

• Medical Power of Attorney: Allows you to appoint someone you trust to make health care choices for you if you are unable to do so. Learn more about Medical Power of Attorney.
• Living Will:  Allows you to share what types of medical care you would want or want to avoid if you cannot speak for yourself. Learn more about Living Wills.

You do not need a lawyer to complete these forms. If you choose to complete them in Koda, they will automatically be available in your health record and your care team can act on them accordingly. 

A third advance directive is a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order, which tells health care providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. DNRs are not submitted through Koda. Learn more about DNRs.

MD Anderson recommends that all adults age 18 and older have advance directives on file to help ensure their values, goals and health care wishes are known, respected and honored.

Support is available

Advance care planning doesn’t have to be done alone. MD Anderson’s Social Work team is available to help you explore your values, start conversations with loved ones and communicate your wishes with your care team.

Social Work also offers in-person and virtual group workshops, which provide education, guided discussion and the opportunity to learn from others. There is an Advance Care Planning Workbook that will guide you through the process and help you think through the types of care you would like to receive at every stage of your treatment.

To learn more about advance directives, the advance care planning process or to speak with someone about end-of-life concerns, MD Anderson patients should contact the Social Work department at 713‑792‑6195, or tell your nurse or doctor that you'd like to speak with a social work counselor.