by Crystal Gwizdala

April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day. The day exists “to inspire, educate and empower the public and health professionals about the importance of advance care planning,” or preparing for future decisions about your medical care if you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes.

In this Q&A, I spoke with Mary E. Tinetti, MD, Gladys Phillips Crofoot Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics) and co-creator of Patient Priorities Care, to discuss aging and how she is reimagining how complex health care decisions are being made. She also shares how she has applied her expertise to help her own parents make health care decisions.