As part of National Healthcare Decisions Day, the hospital is hosting a public program on April 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the doctors’ wing, with free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms.

The program will help you prepare to discuss your wishes with family, friends and health care providers, and to execute written advance directives in accordance with Massachusetts state laws.

There also will be a workshop in the Windemere large dining room at 1 p.m. introduced by Nell Coogan, from the law offices of Edmund G. Coogan. The workshop focus will be on completing advance directives with professional support and explanations of their importance.

The program is organized and supported by Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, Island Hospice, VNA and Grace Episcopal Church.

Polly Brown, member of the hospital ethics committee, said in a statement that such preparations would mean “fewer families and health care providers will have to struggle with making difficult health care decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and health care providers and facilities will be better equipped ... and better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”