Improving the Advance Directive Request and Retrieval Process in Critical Access Hospitals: Honoring the Patient's Wishes.

The Patient Self-Determination Act was created to enhance awareness and use of advance directives. Several states also have created registries where the advance directives can be easily retrieved when needed. Quick retrieval is especially important in critical access hospitals where patients are often transferred to other facilities. This article describes an innovative project designed to improve the advance directives request and retrieval process on admission to a critical access hospital.