Tang VL, et al. - At any time prior to high-risk surgery, researchers determined the prevalence and patient characteristics associated with advance care planning (ACP) documentation among older adults. Over 4 million high-risk operations (those that are associated with ≥1% in-hospital mortality) are performed in patients 65 years of age or older annually in the United States. Although operational risk has declined over time, many older adults, particularly those with multiple chronic conditions, remain at high risk of postoperative morbidity (including loss of independence and/or functional decline) and mortality. The American College of Surgeons and the American Geriatric Society therefore jointly recommend ACP for patients, which includes documenting the personal goals and values of a patient, treatment preferences, and surrogate decision makers.