In the event of a federal government shutdown, individuals enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board, and School Employees Benefits Board coverage—and those accessing behavioral health services—will not experience a disruption in care. In addition, health care providers will continue to be paid for the services they provide.
If a shutdown occurs, we will share more information at that time.
Learn about patient decision aids: what they are and how to use them.
PDAs are tools that help patients and providers talk together about care options. PDAs help patients understand their choices about whether to have a specific treatment or screening. This includes knowing the pros and cons of each available option.
PDAs also provide patients with information needed to make a decision, based on their personal values and preferences, by exploring each option and how it relates to their values. For example, a PDA could help a pregnant woman decide whether to attempt a natural birth after having a cesarean.
Research shows that PDAs lead to increased knowledge and a more accurate understanding of risk. When using a PDA, more patients feel comfortable with the decisions they make and the care they receive.
Most PDAs have an associated fee. The cancer screening PDAs are available at no cost.
Learn how to identify a high-quality PDA.
Washington State law supports and regulates shared decision making and the certification of PDAs. In addition, Washington is the only state in the nation to certify PDAs. HCA began accepting PDAs for certification in April 2016.
Learn about the PDA certification process.
According to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 182-60-040, a certification is valid for five years from the date of the written certification determination, except for withdrawal or suspension. The following PDAs marked with an asterisk* are currently undergoing the process for review for recertification. If a PDA does not have an asterisk, its certification is still valid.
The following PDA has an associated fee. For more information, visit the organization's website.
| PDA | Organization | Audience | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prenatal genetic testing: Understanding your options | Emmi Solutions | Women before conception or early in the first trimester. |
Educates patients about prenatal genetic testing options. PDA certification date: February 19, 2021 |
The following PDAs have associated fees. For more information, visit the organization's website.
| PDA | Organization | Audience | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment options for knee osteoarthritis | Emmi Solutions LLC 300 W Adams Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60606 |
People with hip osteoarthritis. It is appropriate for patients throughout the disease continuum, from people who are newly diagnosed and/or have mild symptoms to those who have had it long-term and/or have severe symptoms. |
This PDA is made available to all Emmi clients (primarily hospitals and health care systems) with a subscription to EmmiEngage or EmmiDecide product lines. Clinicians/health care teams administer the PDA to patients in preparation for a decision around knee OA treatment options. PDA certification date: June 3, 2021 |
| Treatment options for hip osteoarthritis | Emmi Solutions LLC 300 W Adams Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60606 |
People with hip osteoarthritis. It is appropriate for patients throughout the disease continuum, from people who are newly diagnosed and/or have mild symptoms to those who have had it long-term and/or have severe symptoms. |
This PDA is made available to all Emmi clients (primarily hospitals and health care systems) with a subscription to EmmiEngage or EmmiDecide product lines. Clinicians/health care teams administer the PDA to patients in preparation for a decision around knee OA treatment options. PDA certification date: October 1, 2020 |
The following PDAs are from ACP Decisions and have associated fees. For more information about any of the following tools, please contact executivedirector@acpdecisions.org or acpdecisions.org/contact.
| PDA | Audience | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver academy: decisions about breathing and feeding tubes | Any caregiver who is making a decision for an intubated patient in the intensive care unit setting regarding tracheostomy and a feeding tube. |
This decision aid explores decisions surrounding tracheostomies and feeding tubes for patients who are on a ventilator and intubated. These decisions are often made by a caregiver (health care proxy, surrogate, family, or friends) in an intensive care unit setting for a patient who is presently intubated and on a ventilator. PDA certification date: November 22, 2022 |
|
CPR: advanced cancer |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) with advanced cancer who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have CPR attempted |
Explores whether or not a patient with advanced cancer would like CPR attempted in the hospital. PDA certification date: May 19, 2021 |
|
CPR: advanced disease |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) with advanced disease who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have CPR attempted |
Explores whether or not a patient with advanced disease would like CPR attempted in the hospital. PDA certification date: May 19, 2021 |
|
CPR: advanced heart failure |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) with advanced heart failure who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have CPR attempted |
Explores whether or not a patient with advanced heart failure would like CPR attempted in the hospital. PDA certification date: May 19, 2021 |
|
CPR: advanced liver disease |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) with advanced liver disease who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have CPR attempted |
Explores whether or not a patient with advanced liver disease would like CPR attempted in the hospital. PDA certification date: May 19, 2021 |
|
CPR: advanced lung disease |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) with advanced lung disease who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have CPR attempted |
Explores whether or not a patient with advanced lung disease would like CPR attempted in the hospital. PDA certification date: May 19, 2021 |
|
CPR: a closer look for people with a serious illness |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) with a serious illness who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have CPR attempted |
Explores whether or not a patient with a serious illness would like CPR attempted in the hospital. PDA certification date: May 19, 2021 |
|
Decisions about dialysis for patients 75 and older |
Any competent adult over the age of 75 with frailty (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have dialysis attempted or pursue supportive kidney care for end-stage renal failure and chronic advanced kidney disease |
Explores treatment options for patients with end-stage renal disease or advanced chronic kidney disease. PDA certification date: November 22, 2022 |
|
Goals of care: advanced cancer |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers) with advanced cancer who is making a decision about what type of medical care they would want if they became ill |
Explores what level of medical care a patient with advanced cancer desires in a health care setting. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Goals of care: advanced dementia |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers) who is considering medical care if they had advanced dementia and is making a decision about what type of medical care they would want if they became ill. |
Explores what level of medical care a patient with advanced dementia desires in a health care setting. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Goals of care: advanced disease |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers) with advanced disease who is making a decision about what type of medical care they would want if they became ill |
Explores what level of medical care a patient with advanced disease desires in a health care setting. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Goals of care: advanced heart failure |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers) with advanced heart failure who is making a decision about what type of medical care they would want if they became ill |
Explores what level of medical care a patient with advanced heart failure desires in a health care setting. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Goals of care: advanced lung disease |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers) with advanced lung disease who is making a decision about what type of medical care they would want if they became ill |
Explores what level of medical care a patient with advanced lung disease desires in a health care setting. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Goals of care: family meetings in the ICU |
Any surrogate who is making a decision for a patient in the intensive care unit setting about what type of medical care they would want for their loved one |
Explores what level of medical care a surrogate (health care proxy, family or friends) desires for their loved one in an intensive care unit setting. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Goals of care: skilled nursing facility |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers) who is making a decision about what type of medical care they would want if they became ill in the skilled nursing facility setting |
Explores what level of medical care a patient desires in a health care setting, specifically the skilled nursing facility. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Hospice: advanced cancer |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) with advanced cancer who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have hospice |
Explores whether or not a patient with advanced cancer wishes to receive hospice care; reviews what hospice is, the benefits and limits of hospice, and the goal of hospice. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Hospice: skilled nursing facility |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have hospice in the skilled nursing setting |
Explores whether or not a patient in a skilled nursing facility wishes to receive hospice care; reviews what hospice is, the benefits and limits of hospice, and the goal of hospice. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
|
Hospice: an introduction |
Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have hospice |
Explores whether or not a patient wishes to receive hospice care; reviews what hospice is, the benefits and limits of hospice, and the goal of hospice. PDA certification date: March 17, 2022 |
| Intubation and breathing machines: a closer look for people 65 and over | Any competent adult over the age of 65 (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) who is making a decision about whether or not they wish to have intubation and mechanical ventilation attempted. |
The decision aid explores the issue of whether or not a patient over 65 would like to be intubated if they are unable to breathe on their own. PDA certification date: November 22, 2022 |
|
Supporting decisions involving extremely premature infants* |
Any parent who is making decisions about an extremely premature infant |
Explores decisions surrounding medical care for infants born extremely premature; reviews the two general approaches that neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) use for medical care for extremely premature infants, namely, life-prolonging care and comfort care. *This PDA is in the process of being recertified |
| Dementia for caregivers: goals of care: across the spectrum for Alzheimer's disease | Any competent adult (and their surrogate decision-makers in the event of incapacity) who is considering medical care if they had one of the stages of dementia and is making a decision about what type of medical care they would want if they became ill |
Explores what level of medical care a patient with one of the stages of dementia desires if they become ill and how surrogate decision makers can aid in the decision making process. PDA certification date: November 22, 2022 |
The following PDAs are from Respecting Choices and have associated fees. For more information, email info@respectingchoices.org or call 608-473-1025.
Learn more by visiting Respecting Choices' website.
| PDA | Audience | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
CPR decision aid |
People with serious illness (like heart or lung disease or cancer) facing a decision about attempting CPR |
Individuals are guided to consider what care they would want if their heart and breathing stops. This decision aid will help an individual consider his/her options for CPR and personal values. PDA certification date: November 22, 2022 |
|
Help with breathing decision aid |
People with underlying, serious illness (like heart or lung disease or cancer) facing a decision about getting short-term help with breathing |
Individuals are guided to consider what care they would like if they were not able to breathe on their own. This may occur if a person has a problem, like pneumonia, from his/her serious illness. This pneumonia perhaps can be treated, but the person would need help with breathing. This decision aid will help an individual consider his/her options and personal values. PDA certification date: November 22, 2022 |
|
Long-term tube feeding decision aid |
People with serious illness (like heart or lung disease, dementia, or cancer) facing a decision about the use of long-term tube feeding |
Individuals are guided to consider what care they would want if their illness or disability made it hard to swallow and they were no longer able to eat or drink enough by mouth to maintain nutrition. This decision aid will help an individual consider his/her options and personal values and beliefs. PDA certification date: December 23, 2022 |
The following PDAs are available at no cost. For more information, email randal.moseley@confluencehealth.org.
|
PDA |
Organization |
Audience |
Description |
|
Should I Get a Mammogram? (ages 40-49), also translated into Español - Spanish |
Confluence Health |
All women, ages 40-49 |
This PDA is to help women, ages 40-49, decide if they want to start having mammograms before age 50 and how often to get them, if a woman decides to start having mammograms. PDA certification date: March 1, 2021 |
|
How Often Should I Get a Mammogram? (ages 50-74), also translated into Español - Spanish |
Confluence Health 1201 S. Miller St. Wenatchee, WA 98801 |
All women, ages 50-74 |
This PDA is to help women, ages 50-74, decide how often to get screening mammograms. PDA certification date: March 1, 2021 |
|
Should I Get a Mammogram? (ages 75+), also translated into Español - Spanish |
Confluence Health 1201 S. Miller St. Wenatchee, WA 98801 |
All women, ages 75 and older |
This PDA is to help women, ages 75 and older, decide if they want to stop or continue getting mammograms. PDA certification date: March 1, 2021 |
Most PDAs have an associated fee. In some cases:
Although called "patient" decision aids, PDAs are tools providers can use as part of shared decision making with their patients.