Federal legislation requires Speare Memorial Hospital to provide information prior to hospitalization about the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA). This material must describe:

• Your rights under state law to make decisions about medical care, including the right to accept or refuse medical and surgical treatment.
• Your rights to formulate advance medical directives such as a living will or/and durable power of attorney for health care, to guide the provision of care should you become unable to make your own decisions.

Scientific, technological, social, and economic developments over the recent decades have brought major changes throughout the health care system. An impressive array of "life-sustaining" technologies, including new drugs, devices, and procedures have emerged, and these technologies rapidly became available in hospitals. These powerful medical technologies have brought patients, health care professionals, and families new hope and new, often difficult choices.

The overriding purpose of the advance directives is to ensure the autonomy and informed consent of our patients. If you were not provided with this information at admission, ask your nurse or doctor about this important patient self-determination act.

Your Health Care Team
More than 200 people are involved in making your stay at Speare Memorial Hospital as comfortable and healthful as possible....

A Few Hospital Departments
As a patient at Speare Memorial Hospital, you may receive services from these departments ...

History of Speare Memorial Hospital
Speare Memorial Hospital had its beginnings in 1892. Click here to see historic photos and learn about our beginnings as a community hospital.