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Understanding DNR Orders and End-of-Life Planning
Planning for end-of-life decisions in Winter Gardens is an important part of a complete estate planning strategy. One specific decision many people consider is a Do Not Resuscitate order, which communicates your wishes about resuscitation in medical emergencies. This guide explains what a DNR order means, how it operates under California law, and how it fits with other advance healthcare documents. Taking time to document these preferences helps ensure that medical professionals and family members understand your intentions and can act consistently with your values when you are unable to speak for yourself.
Navigating the medical and legal aspects of DNR orders can feel overwhelming without practical, clear information. This resource aims to give Winter Gardens residents straightforward guidance about creating, implementing, and updating a DNR order so your healthcare preferences are respected. It covers the forms and signatures required under California rules, how a DNR interacts with living wills and healthcare powers of attorney, and the steps to keep your directives current. Clear documentation reduces confusion during emergencies and helps families and providers follow your stated wishes.
Why DNR Orders Matter in Your Estate Plan
Including a DNR order in your estate planning offers clarity and practical benefits for both you and your loved ones. It communicates your specific preferences about resuscitation, reducing uncertainty and potential conflicts during stressful medical situations. A properly documented DNR helps healthcare personnel follow your wishes precisely and prevents interventions that may not align with your goals for quality of life. Beyond the immediate medical directives, a DNR supports the broader estate plan by aligning healthcare choices with other end-of-life documents, ensuring coordinated decision making and better outcomes for family members who may otherwise face difficult choices.
About LA Estate Plans and Our Service to Winter Gardens Clients
LA Estate Plans serves Winter Gardens and nearby communities in California, offering guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and advance healthcare directives including DNR orders. Our team focuses on clear communication and practical assistance to help you document medical preferences that comply with state requirements. We assist with preparing approved forms, coordinating signatures, and integrating the DNR with your overall estate planning documents. Our approach is centered on helping clients make informed decisions, ensuring documents are properly completed, and supporting families through the administrative steps so your wishes are followed when they matter most.
Understanding Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a medical and legal instruction that directs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other resuscitative measures if your heart stops or you stop breathing. In California, a DNR is part of advance healthcare planning and is documented on approved forms that meet state requirements. It is intended to ensure that your resuscitation preferences are recognized by hospitals, physicians, and emergency medical personnel. Understanding the scope and limitations of a DNR helps you decide whether it reflects your values and how it should be combined with other directives for a complete plan.
DNR orders work alongside living wills, POLST forms, and healthcare powers of attorney to create an advance care planning framework. While a DNR addresses only resuscitation, other documents provide broader instructions about life-sustaining treatments and designate someone to make medical decisions if you cannot. It is important to consider how each document relates to the others and to communicate choices to family and providers. Clear, legally valid documentation helps ensure consistent actions across care settings and prevents misunderstandings that could lead to undesired medical interventions.
Defining a DNR Order and Its Legal Standing in California
A DNR order is a focused medical directive that specifies that cardiopulmonary resuscitation and related emergency measures should not be performed in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest. California recognizes DNR orders when completed according to state guidelines and signed by a licensed physician. The document is enforceable in hospitals and by emergency responders when properly executed. Understanding the legal requirements and how the order is recognized across care settings helps ensure your intentions are honored, and prevents unnecessary or unwanted resuscitative efforts that conflict with your healthcare goals.
Key Components and the Process to Establish a DNR Order
To establish a valid DNR in Winter Gardens, certain elements are typically required: clear communication of your wishes, completion of approved California forms, and physician acknowledgment and signature. Coordination with your healthcare provider helps confirm that a DNR aligns with your clinical situation. It is also important to keep copies accessible to family members and medical personnel and to review the order periodically as health or preferences change. Attention to these steps ensures the DNR is legally recognized and that your medical choices are respected when you cannot speak for yourself.
Key Terms and Glossary for DNR Orders and Advance Care Planning
Familiarity with common terms helps you navigate DNR orders and related documents. Knowing the distinctions between a DNR, advance healthcare directive, POLST form, and healthcare power of attorney makes it easier to plan and communicate. This glossary introduces each term in plain language and explains how they work together within an estate plan. Understanding these definitions helps you make informed choices, talk with medical providers, and ensure that documentation accurately reflects your values and intentions in a way that is enforceable under California law.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a legal instruction directing medical personnel not to perform CPR or other emergency resuscitation if your heart or breathing stops. It is narrowly focused on resuscitation measures and does not ordinarily address other medical treatments. In California, the order is documented on specific forms and must be signed by an attending physician to be recognized by care providers. A DNR ensures that emergency responders and hospital staff follow your wishes regarding resuscitation, minimizing the chance of interventions that conflict with your values or desired quality of life.
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
A POLST form translates a patient’s preferences into actionable medical orders for seriously ill or frail individuals, documenting the level of treatment to be provided. Unlike a DNR, which focuses on resuscitation only, a POLST can cover a range of life-sustaining measures such as ventilation, intubation, and feeding tubes. It is completed with a healthcare professional and is intended for use across care settings so first responders and facility staff know which treatments to provide or withhold based on the patient’s current condition and goals of care.
Advance Healthcare Directive
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that outlines your broader preferences for medical treatment and may designate a trusted person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. It can include a living will component that describes the types of treatments you would or would not want under certain circumstances. This document complements a DNR by providing context for overall care choices and by appointing an agent who can speak for you when immediate decisions arise and you cannot communicate.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
A healthcare power of attorney appoints someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated. That person can communicate with healthcare providers about treatments and ensure your documented wishes, including a DNR or living will, are followed. Selecting and discussing choices with your appointed agent helps ensure they understand your values and will act in accordance with your preferences, which is important for maintaining continuity of care and reducing family uncertainty during stressful medical situations.
Comparing DNR Orders with Other Advance Medical Directives
DNR orders serve a very specific purpose by directing medical personnel not to perform resuscitation. Other advance directives, such as living wills and healthcare powers of attorney, provide a broader framework for medical decisions, addressing treatments beyond resuscitation and designating decision makers. Choosing the right combination depends on your health, values, and the level of detail you want to provide. Understanding how each document functions and how they operate together helps you design an estate plan that communicates your wishes clearly across different care settings and legal requirements in California.
When a Focused DNR Order May Be Enough:
Terminal Illness with Clear Resuscitation Preferences
For individuals with a terminal diagnosis who have firm preferences against resuscitation, a DNR order alone can provide a clear directive that aligns immediate emergency care with those wishes. In such situations, a straightforward DNR reduces the need for extensive additional documentation while ensuring medical teams do not initiate CPR or similar interventions. It simplifies emergency decision making and helps healthcare providers act in accordance with the patient’s known values when recovery is unlikely or resuscitation would not meet the patient’s goals for care and quality of life.
Short-Term Medical Conditions with Specific Resuscitation Concerns
When facing a temporary medical condition where you want to limit resuscitation during a defined period, a DNR can address that specific concern without altering long-term plans. This focused approach is appropriate when the potential for resuscitation is a discrete risk and broader directives are not needed. Documenting the decision and communicating it to current healthcare providers and family members helps ensure emergency responders understand the temporary preference and prevents unnecessary resuscitation that would contradict your immediate medical goals.
When a Broader Approach to Medical Directives Is Advisable:
Complex Conditions and Multiple Treatment Decisions
If you have multiple health conditions or anticipate needing nuanced decisions about various life-sustaining treatments, a comprehensive set of directives provides clearer guidance. Combining a DNR with a living will, POLST where appropriate, and a healthcare power of attorney ensures that both specific emergency preferences and broader treatment choices are documented. This integrated approach reduces ambiguity and makes it easier for your appointed decision maker and medical teams to follow instructions that reflect your values and priorities across a range of clinical scenarios.
Unclear Preferences or Potential Family Disagreement
When preferences are not straightforward or family members may disagree about the right course of action, broader planning helps prevent conflict. Detailed advance directives and a legally appointed decision maker clarify your wishes and provide authoritative guidance for care teams and loved ones. This reduces the emotional burden on family members and minimizes the chance of disputes that can delay or complicate medical decisions. Clear documentation supports consistent application of your desires even when circumstances are stressful or family viewpoints diverge.
Benefits of Integrating DNR Orders into a Comprehensive Estate Plan
Including a DNR within a broader estate and healthcare plan ensures that resuscitation preferences are coordinated with other directives, such as living wills and healthcare power of attorney arrangements. This alignment prevents conflicting instructions and supports a unified approach to medical care. A coordinated plan makes it easier for providers and family members to understand your priorities, reducing uncertainty during emergencies. It also helps ensure that the person you designate to make decisions has the legal authority and clear guidance needed to act on your behalf when necessary.
A comprehensive approach can also relieve emotional and decision-making burdens from loved ones. By documenting your wishes clearly and designating a trusted decision maker, you minimize the risk of family disputes and uncertainty during critical moments. This preparation fosters smoother communication with healthcare teams and helps ensure that care aligns with your values and desired quality of life. In addition, keeping documents updated and accessible supports consistent enforcement of your choices across different settings and stages of illness.
Coordinated Healthcare Decisions
When DNR orders are integrated into a full estate plan, medical decisions are easier to coordinate across providers and settings. A complete set of directives ensures that emergency personnel, hospital staff, and long-term care teams have consistent guidance about resuscitation and other treatments. This alignment reduces the potential for contradictory instructions and helps medical teams honor your wishes in a timely manner. Clear documentation also empowers the person you name to make decisions, giving them the legal backing and context they need to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals.
Reduced Burdens on Family and Caregivers
A comprehensive plan that includes a DNR can spare family members from making difficult medical choices without guidance. Knowing your preferences in advance reduces emotional stress and ambiguity during emergencies, helping relatives focus on supporting you rather than debating treatments. Written directives and a designated decision maker provide a clear road map for action, which can improve communication with providers and minimize delays. This preparation also helps family members feel confident that they are following your stated wishes.
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Practical Tips for Managing Your DNR Order
Regular Review and Updates
Reviewing your DNR order regularly is an important part of maintaining an accurate estate plan. Health conditions and personal preferences can change, and a document that once reflected your wishes may become outdated. Schedule periodic reviews, especially after major health events, changes in living situation, or significant shifts in personal values. During a review, confirm that the form remains valid, that the required signatures are onsite, and that copies have been distributed to your healthcare providers and designated decision maker. Keeping the document current increases the likelihood that your preferences will be followed.
Communicate Clearly with Loved Ones
Keep Documents Accessible to Providers
Making sure your DNR order is accessible to medical personnel is critical for it to be honored in an emergency. Keep copies with your medical records, ensure your primary care physician and specialists have a copy, and give one to the person you have appointed to make healthcare decisions. Consider placing a copy in a prominent place at home and providing copies to local emergency contacts if appropriate. Clear instructions about where the document is located help first responders and hospital staff act consistently with your wishes.
Reasons to Consider a DNR Order in Winter Gardens
Considering a DNR order is a personal decision shaped by health status, values, and preferences about medical care. People facing advanced illness, having strong preferences about resuscitation, or wishing to prevent aggressive emergency interventions often find that a DNR provides clarity. The document helps ensure that resuscitation efforts align with your goals for quality of life and avoids interventions that may be inconsistent with your wishes. Discussing options with healthcare providers and loved ones helps determine whether a DNR should be part of your plan.
Another reason to consider a DNR order is to reduce stress and uncertainty for family members during medical crises. Clear, legally documented instructions guide healthcare professionals and relatives so they can act quickly and according to your preferences. In California, ensuring a DNR is completed properly and shared with the right people is a practical step that protects your choices and provides peace of mind for you and those who may need to make decisions on your behalf.
Common Situations Where a DNR Order Can Be Beneficial
Certain conditions and life stages make a DNR order especially relevant. These include living with chronic or terminal illness, advanced age with specific preferences about invasive treatment, or situations where the likely outcomes of resuscitation would not meet your goals for recovery or quality of life. By assessing clinical circumstances and personal values, you can decide whether a DNR aligns with your objectives. Having the conversation early helps ensure care choices are documented before they become urgent.
Chronic or Terminal Illness
When managing a chronic or terminal condition, a DNR order can ensure that emergency care follows your goals for comfort and quality of life. Many people in this situation prefer to avoid aggressive resuscitation that is unlikely to provide meaningful recovery. A DNR clarifies resuscitation preferences for healthcare providers and emergency responders and can be paired with other planning documents to address broader aspects of care. Documenting these wishes reduces ambiguity and supports more predictable treatment consistent with your values.
Advanced Age with Specific Healthcare Preferences
Older adults sometimes choose a DNR to avoid invasive interventions that may not improve quality of life or may result in prolonged medical treatment without meaningful benefit. A DNR can be part of a broader plan that prioritizes comfort-focused care and aligns medical decisions with personal priorities. Discussing these preferences with family and clinicians helps ensure everyone understands the rationale and that the document is completed correctly so it will be followed by medical professionals when needed.
Desire to Avoid Prolonged Life Support
Some individuals prefer to avoid prolonged life-sustaining treatments when recovery is unlikely. A DNR can prevent aggressive resuscitation efforts that would lead to extended life support inconsistent with those wishes. Integrating a DNR within a set of advance directives and appointing a decision maker provides a clear framework for addressing complex medical decisions. This planning helps ensure that your preferences about the intensity of care are understood and honored by providers and family members.
We’re Here to Assist Winter Gardens Residents with DNR Orders
Why Choose LA Estate Plans for Your DNR and Estate Planning Needs
LA Estate Plans provides personalized support for residents of Winter Gardens who are preparing DNR orders and related documents. We prioritize clear communication and practical assistance so that you understand what each form does and how it is enforced under California law. Our service includes reviewing existing documents, ensuring forms meet statutory requirements, and coordinating with healthcare providers to obtain necessary signatures. This process-oriented approach helps prevent errors and increases the likelihood that your wishes will be followed when they are needed most.
When documenting sensitive medical preferences, many clients appreciate having guidance to avoid common pitfalls such as incomplete forms or missing signatures. We help you select the appropriate forms for your situation and integrate a DNR with other directives like living wills and healthcare powers of attorney. By coordinating distribution to providers and ensuring your appointed decision maker understands your wishes, the process reduces confusion for family members and supports consistent application of your directives across care settings.
Our practice assists with practical steps that increase the effectiveness of your DNR and related documents: maintaining current copies, advising when updates are recommended, and helping you communicate decisions to family and medical teams. These actions help ensure that emergency responders and hospital staff can locate and honor your instructions. For Winter Gardens residents, having a well-documented plan in place fosters peace of mind and helps loved ones focus on care and support rather than uncertain decision making.
Contact Us to Discuss Your DNR Order
How We Handle DNR Orders at LA Estate Plans
Our process for preparing DNR orders is designed to be clear and supportive for Winter Gardens clients. We begin with a meeting to understand your wishes and review any existing documents. Next, we assist with completing California-approved forms, coordinate physician acknowledgement as required, and provide guidance on distributing copies to providers and family. Finally, we advise on record keeping and when to revisit the document. This structured approach helps ensure your directives are enforceable and accessible when needed.
Initial Consultation and Understanding Your Wishes
The initial meeting focuses on understanding your healthcare preferences, current health status, and any existing advance directives. We review how a DNR interacts with other estate planning documents and discuss who you would like to appoint to make medical decisions if needed. This conversation clarifies your goals and provides the foundation for drafting documents that accurately reflect your intentions. We also explain California requirements so you know what steps are necessary for the DNR to be recognized by medical providers.
Consultation and Document Review
During the consultation, we review any prior documents you may have, such as living wills or powers of attorney, to ensure coherence across your plan. We discuss scenarios where a DNR applies and help you articulate the circumstances under which you would or would not want resuscitation. Clarifying these points supports accurate drafting and helps your appointed decision maker understand your intentions, which is essential for making consistent choices on your behalf if the situation arises.
Collecting Personal and Medical Information
Gathering relevant personal and medical information helps tailor the DNR and related directives to your situation. We request details about your health conditions, treating physicians, and any preferences discussed with your clinical team. This information supports completing the required forms correctly and facilitates communication with healthcare providers who may need to sign or acknowledge the order. Accurate records also simplify distribution to hospitals, clinics, and emergency contacts so the document can be acted upon when necessary.
Document Drafting and Review
After the initial consultation, we prepare the DNR forms and any complementary documents that align with your wishes and California rules. Drafting includes using approved formats and language that medical personnel will recognize, then reviewing those drafts with you to confirm accuracy. We incorporate any preferences that affect resuscitation decisions and ensure the paperwork is ready for physician review and signature. Careful drafting reduces the chance of disputes and helps ensure that your intentions are clearly expressed and enforceable.
Drafting the DNR and Related Documents
Drafting focuses on preparing the precise forms required by California for a valid DNR and ensuring any accompanying directives reflect your broader healthcare goals. We explain the wording and implications of each provision so you can make informed choices. The goal is to create documents that are clear to both medical teams and family members, minimizing ambiguity. Once you approve the drafts, we guide you through the signature and acknowledgement steps needed for recognition by providers and emergency responders.
Coordinating with Healthcare Providers for Signatures
Because a physician signature is typically required for a DNR to be effective, we coordinate with your medical providers to obtain the necessary acknowledgement. We help explain the process to clinicians and advise on when a POLST form might be appropriate as an alternative or complement. Working with providers ensures the order is completed on approved forms and that all required endorsements are in place. This coordination is important to ensure the document will be recognized by hospitals and emergency services.
Finalizing, Distributing, and Maintaining the DNR Order
Once documents are finalized and signed, we assist with distributing copies to your designated decision maker, primary care physician, and any relevant specialists or facilities. We advise on best practices for storing originals and making copies accessible for emergencies. Finally, we review circumstances that should prompt updating the DNR, such as changes in health or personal preferences, and provide recommendations for routine reviews to keep the plan current and enforceable across care settings in Winter Gardens and beyond.
Distributing the DNR Order to Medical Providers and Family
Providing copies of the signed DNR to hospitals, clinics, and your appointed decision maker helps ensure the order will be honored in an emergency. We recommend delivering copies directly to your primary care physician and any specialists involved in your treatment, and advising family members where the originals are kept. Making sure the right people have access reduces delays and prevents confusion, which increases the likelihood that providers and first responders will follow your stated preferences during urgent situations.
Guidance on Maintaining and Updating Your DNR Order
We provide clear guidance on when to review and update your DNR, including after major medical events, changes in diagnosis, or shifts in personal preferences. Keeping a DNR current involves confirming signatures remain valid and distributing updated copies to providers and family. Regular maintenance prevents reliance on outdated instructions and ensures that your appointed decision maker has accurate information to represent your wishes. Updating documents as circumstances evolve helps maintain the integrity and enforceability of your advance care plan.
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Frequently Asked Questions About DNR Orders in Winter Gardens
What is a DNR order and what does it do?
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a medical and legal instruction indicating that you do not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other emergency resuscitative measures if your heart stops or you cease breathing. The DNR focuses specifically on resuscitation and does not automatically limit other types of medical care. It must be completed on approved forms and typically requires physician acknowledgement to be recognized by hospitals and emergency personnel. By documenting this preference, you direct medical teams to withhold certain emergency interventions that you do not want performed. Understanding the DNR’s scope helps you decide whether it matches your healthcare values. It is often considered alongside other documents that address broader treatment preferences and appoint a decision maker. Discussing the DNR with your healthcare provider clarifies the clinical implications and ensures the order is completed properly. Clear communication with family members and providers increases the likelihood that your resuscitation preferences will be respected when you are unable to speak for yourself.
How do I create a valid DNR order in California?
To create a DNR order in California, start by discussing your wishes with your primary care doctor or treating clinician. The DNR must be documented on approved forms and, in many situations, requires the signature of an attending physician to be recognized by hospitals and emergency responders. It is also helpful to include the order as part of an overall advance planning effort so that other directives and the appointment of a decision maker are consistent with the DNR. After the form is completed and signed, provide copies to your medical providers, the person you designate to make healthcare decisions, and family members who need to know. Confirm with local emergency services and hospitals how they record and honor DNRs so the document will be accessible when required. Periodic reviews help ensure the order remains current and reflective of your preferences.
Can I change or revoke my DNR order after it is signed?
Yes, you can change or revoke a DNR order at any time as long as you have the mental capacity to make healthcare decisions. Revocation should be communicated clearly to your healthcare providers and to the person you have appointed to make decisions on your behalf. It is helpful to complete any cancellation in writing and to request confirmation from clinicians that the previous order has been removed from your medical record to avoid confusion. Once you change or revoke a DNR, provide updated copies to all parties who previously held the document, including hospitals and emergency contacts. Keeping records current and ensuring providers are notified reduces the chance that an outdated order will be relied upon during an emergency, helping to align care with your most recent preferences.
How does a DNR order relate to a living will and other directives?
A DNR specifically addresses actions related to resuscitation, while a living will and other advance directives can cover a wider range of treatments and appoint a surrogate decision maker. A living will typically outlines your preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments under various conditions, and a healthcare power of attorney designates someone to make decisions on your behalf. The DNR is one piece of that larger planning puzzle and should be coordinated with other documents to avoid conflicting instructions. When these documents are aligned, healthcare providers and family members have consistent guidance about both emergency responses and broader medical care choices. Discussing how each document functions and ensuring they reference each other where appropriate helps create a coherent plan that reflects your values and medical priorities.
Who must sign a DNR order to make it valid?
In California, a DNR order generally needs to be documented on an approved form and may require the signature of the attending physician to be effective. The physician’s signature confirms that the order is consistent with your medical condition and that it meets statutory form requirements. Some settings may have additional procedural steps, so coordinating with your treating clinician is important to ensure the document will be recognized by hospitals and emergency services. Because healthcare practices can vary, it is advisable to confirm the requirements with your provider and local emergency services. We can assist by advising on the appropriate forms and by facilitating communication with clinicians so that the DNR is completed and recorded correctly in your medical record.
Will hospitals and emergency responders honor my DNR order?
Hospitals and emergency responders generally honor properly completed and signed DNR orders, particularly when they are documented on approved forms and included in medical records. A DNR that has the required physician acknowledgement is more likely to be recognized across care settings, including by ambulance services and hospital emergency departments. Providing copies to providers and ensuring the order is accessible increases the chance it will be followed in urgent situations. It is important to verify with local EMS and hospitals how they document and retrieve DNR orders, as procedures can differ. Keeping consistent records and sharing the order with clinicians helps reduce the risk that your wishes will not be followed when time is critical.
Should a DNR be included in my broader estate plan?
Including a DNR in your broader estate plan is often wise because it ensures resuscitation preferences are considered alongside financial and other legal directives. A coordinated plan that includes a living will and a healthcare power of attorney provides context for the DNR and designates someone to make decisions if you are incapacitated. This combination yields clearer guidance for family members and medical teams and reduces the potential for contradictory instructions. Integrating a DNR into a full planning package also makes it easier to maintain consistent updates and to communicate changes to the people and providers who need to know. This holistic approach promotes better alignment between emergency orders and overall care preferences.
How often should I review or update my DNR order?
You should review your DNR order periodically and anytime your health status or personal preferences change. Major medical events, a change in diagnosis, or a shift in your treatment goals are all reasons to revisit the document. Regular reviews ensure that the order continues to reflect your wishes and that any required signatures or forms remain valid under current rules. During reviews, confirm that copies have been redistributed to clinicians and that your designated decision maker understands any updates. Keeping the DNR current and well-documented increases the likelihood that medical personnel will follow it during an emergency and reduces the chance of disputes or confusion among family members.
What should I do if family members disagree with my DNR decision?
If family members disagree with your DNR decision, having clear written instructions and a designated decision maker helps resolve disputes. Your documented preferences provide authoritative guidance to clinicians and act as the primary source for determining appropriate actions. Communicating the reasons behind your choices with family members prior to an emergency can reduce misunderstandings and emotional conflict when decisions must be made quickly. If disagreements persist, clinicians typically follow the documented legal directives on file. Appointing a trusted decision maker who understands your values and wishes further helps ensure that choices made on your behalf reflect your intentions, rather than being driven by family disagreement at the time of crisis.
How can I ensure my DNR order is accessible in an emergency?
To ensure your DNR order is accessible in an emergency, provide copies to your primary care physician, relevant specialists, and any facility where you receive care. Give a copy to the person you appoint as your healthcare decision maker and inform family members about where originals or copies are stored. Some people keep a copy in a prominent location at home and note this in medical communications to help first responders locate it quickly. Confirm with local hospitals and emergency services how they document and store advance directives so they can retrieve the DNR when needed. Electronic records and written copies held by providers increase accessibility and improve the chance that your resuscitation preferences will be followed promptly.