The Center is dedicated to continuing its work with the University of Nevada School of Medicine, School of Public Health, the Orvis School of Nursing, Sanford Center for Aging and the Nevada Cooperative Extension Service. The Center continues to develop additional working and support relationships with other units of the University and Community College System, health care organizations, long-term care facilities, and hospices throughout the state.

How does the Center help the state?

• Nevadans benefit from the Center's efforts to reduce unnecessary and burdensome medical treatments with an emphasis upon quality healthcare.
• A recent general public survey conducted by the Sanford Center for Aging, University of Nevada, Reno, indicates that some 66% of Nevadans either do not have, or do not know about Advance Directives, a measure adopted by the Legislature in 1977.
• During the past three years, the Center has participated in over 38 conferences, delivered 329 presentations statewide addressing end-of-life issues, and has had coverage from over 140 mass media outlets (TV, radio and print).
• The Center has made presentations to national groups, including the National Association of Attorneys General, American College of Health Care Administrators and the United States Coalition on Aging, Inc.
• The Center provides ethical consultations to individuals, and health care organizations
• Research conducted by the Center provides valuable information to legislators and state agencies.

Background
NCEHP is a non-profit organization formed in 1999 through a $450,000 grant from Robert Woods Johnson Foundation to the University of Nevada, Reno to improve care at the end-of-life in Nevada. Since its founding, NCEHP has worked to support consumers taking control of their own health care, especially at the end of life. Nevada's living will was established by the legislature in 1977. The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care followed in 1987.

In 1996, former Attorney General Frankie Sue del Papa created a statewide taskforce to look at ways to improve care for the dying. Subsequently, NCEHP was formed with the primary purpose to advance and improve care at the end of life. These efforts have resulted in Advance Directive (AD) completion rates of approximately 22% statewide, according to our recent survey.