Current Projects

Eight active work groups meet regularly to address the Washtenaw Health Initiative’s focus areas. With support from staff members at the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), these groups generate innovative ideas to improve health and healthcare in the county, identify and share information on medical and social care gaps, coordinate and leverage resources, and plan and direct strategic projects and activities.

Advance Care Planning Project

WHI Advance Care Planning Project

Download the free “Making Your Health Care Wishes Known” guide

The WHI Advance Care Planning Committee formed in early 2015 with the goal of improving the quality of life for Washtenaw County residents so that when they face a life-limiting or life-threatening illness, their preferences are known and respected.

Achievements

In support of this goal, the committee created the guide, “Making Your Health Care Wishes Known.” The purpose of this guide is to provide education about advance care planning and to make readers aware of the importance of the advance care planning process.

The committee has researched different options for advance care planning education, defined parameters for dissemination and evaluation of the newly updated guide, and engaged community organizations and consumer representatives throughout the process.

Ongoing work

In the coming year, the Advance Care Planning Committee will work to broaden the dissemination of the guide throughout Washtenaw County and will evaluate the effectiveness of the guide in a) assisting individuals with designating a patient advocate, b) discussing their values and wishes with their patient advocate, family, and healthcare providers, and c) completing and sharing advance directive documents with their advocate, family, and healthcare providers.

Members

The Advance Care Planning Committee is chaired by Dr. Sheryl Kurze and made up of dedicated volunteers with wide representation across Washtenaw County. Our group members include representatives from the county’s three main health systems, Michigan Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System; community organizations such as Arbor Hospice and Huron Valley PACE; faith community; and more.

For more information:

  • Download the committee’s group charge
  • Contact the committee chair: Dr. Sheryl Kurze, retired physician and specialist in hospice and palliative care, kurze.sheryl@gmail.com
  • Contact the committee’s staff representative: Jaque King, health policy and data analyst at the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation, jaquek@umich.edu

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