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Shared decision making service

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Help with making complex medical decisions

Medical decisions can be complex. Sometimes you will need to meet with different kinds of doctors. You may need to choose from several treatment options with different benefits and burdens. You may also have family members or loved ones with different opinions about which treatments are best for you. A shared decision making consult helps you weigh medical information in light of your personal values and beliefs.

The Shared Decision Making Service can help with decisions like these:

  • Should this treatment be started – what are the benefits and burdens?
  • Should this treatment be stopped – is it hurting more than helping?
  • Who may speak for a patient who cannot speak for him/herself?
  • Are the patient’s values and beliefs being respected?
To request the Shared Decision Making Service, call toll-free anytime navigators, call toll-free

844-307-2721

What is the Shared Decision Making Service?

The Shared Decision Making Service provides you with a neutral third party to help sort through complex medical decisions. The professionals who provide this service are called shared decision making consultants or ethics consultants. These consultants come from many disciplines, including medicine, nursing, social work, counseling, law, and chaplaincy. All of them have specialized training in clinical ethics and mediation. Their role is to help you explore complex treatment options, taking into consideration the best medical information and the patient’s values, beliefs, and preferences. The shared decision making consultant will not be a member of the healthcare team treating the patient.

How does the Shared Decision Making Service work?

You may request a consult from the Shared Decision Making Service for yourself or on behalf of a loved one by calling this toll-free number: 844-307-2721. You also may ask a member of the healthcare team to contact the Shared Decision Making service for you. There is no charge for this service.

When you call, you will be asked to give your name, the patient’s name, your reason(s) for calling, and a way to contact you. We will not share your name with the healthcare team without your permission.

A consultant will contact you within 24 hours of your request – usually much sooner – unless you call on a weekend or holiday. In that case, a consultant will respond within 24 hours after return to the normal work week. In the event of a true emergency, a consultant from the Shared Decision Making Service team can be notified during off-hours.

The shared decision making consultant will review the medical record and talk with members of the medical team. They also will talk with the patient, if the patient is able to interact. Often, the consultant will request meetings with the healthcare team that may include the patient and/or the patient’s family or loved ones.

The Shared Decision Making Service can help you make an informed decision that weighs the medical advice you’ve received along with the patient’s personal values, beliefs and preferences. Shared Decision Making consultants will work to understand differences of opinion, support open communication, and help you and the medical team identify options that are ethically sound. They will make recommendations, but they will never tell you or the medical team what to do. Final decisions are made by the medical team together with you or your authorized decision maker, if you are unable to make your own decisions.

Who can request the Shared Decision Making Service?

A patient, a patient’s loved one or family member, or a member of the patient’s care team may request the Shared Decision Making service.

You may request this service directly by calling this toll-free number: 844-307-2721. You also may ask a member of the medical team to contact the Shared Decision Making service for you. There is no charge for this service.

You will be asked to give your name, the patient’s name, your reason(s) for calling, and a way to contact you. We will not share your name with the care team without your permission.