April 16 is the annual National Healthcare Decisions Day, which exists to inspire, educate, and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. Although this issue has always been important, the COVID-19 pandemic has vividly demonstrated the need advance care planning in the event of a health crisis.

The goal is as simple as it is huge: ensure that all adults name an agent, discuss their choices, and document the agent and choices in an advance directive. Please help spread the word to the public and please be sure that all healthcare providers lead by example with their own advance care planning. Free resources are available at www.nhdd.org and Virginia-specific resources are available on the Virginia State Bar Health Care Decisions Day webpage.