Advance Directive

All patients have the right to participate in their own health care decisions and to make Advance Directives or to execute Powers of Attorney that authorize others to make decisions on their behalf based on the patient’s expressed wishes when the patient is unable to make decisions or unable to communicate decisions. Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Surgical Suites respects and upholds those rights.

However, unlike in an acute care hospital setting, Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Surgical Suites, does not routinely perform “high risk” procedures. While no surgery is without risk, the procedures performed in this facility are considered to be of minimal risk. You will discuss the specifics of your procedure with your physician who can answer your questions as to its risk, your expected recovery, and care after your surgery.

Therefore, it is our policy, regardless of the contents of any Advance Directive or instructions from a health care surrogate or attorney-in-fact, that if an adverse event occurs during your treatment at this facility, we will initiate resuscitative or other stabilizing measures and transfer you to an acute care hospital for further evaluation. At the acute care hospital, further treatments or withdrawal of treatment measures that have already begun may be ordered in accordance with your wishes, Advance Directive, or health care power of attorney. Your agreement with this facility’s policy will not revoke or invalidate any current health care directive or health care power of attorney.

If you wish to complete an Advance Directive, copies of the official State forms are available to you at our facility or online at:http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/ad/Pennsylvania.pdf

Reference: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual, Appendix L-Guidance for Surveyors: Ambulatory Surgical Centers. March 15, 2013:416.50(c).