A Step-by-Step Submission Process
Registering your healthcare directives is voluntary, but if you choose to do it, the process is designed to be thorough. The qualifying health information exchange organization sets the submission procedures and builds in safeguards at each step.
The qualifying health information exchange organization shall establish a process to allow persons to submit documents described in section 36-3292 to the health care directives registry. The qualifying health information exchange organization shall adopt industry standard safeguards to ensure the security, privacy and integrity of the documents submitted to and maintained in the health care directives registry.
A.R.S. § 36-3294(A)After you submit your documents, the organization provides you with a viewable record of everything that was entered. You then have the opportunity to review it and submit corrections if something is wrong. Your entry is not activated until you confirm the information is accurate. This confirmation step prevents errors from becoming part of your permanent registry record.
You Stay in Control After Registration
One important feature of this statute: it requires the registry to let you come back and manage your documents after they are submitted. You can review what is on file, retrieve copies, revoke documents that no longer reflect your wishes, or replace them with updated versions.
The qualifying health information exchange organization shall establish a process to allow persons who submit documents to the health care directives registry to review, retrieve, revoke and replace the documents.
A.R.S. § 36-3294(E)The organization is also not required to check whether your documents meet every statutory requirement. That responsibility stays with you and whoever helped you prepare the documents. The registry stores what you submit; it does not guarantee legal compliance.
If you revoke or replace a directive, the organization must have a process for removing or distinguishing the old version so providers do not rely on outdated instructions. Keeping your registry record current is a practical step worth taking whenever your healthcare wishes change.
