CCCC/CHCF POLST Form


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		POLST Frequently Asked Questions What does POLST mean? What is the POLST form? Is it required by law? Does the POLST form replace traditional Advance Directives? What if my loved one can no longer communicate her/his wishes for care? Where is the POLST form used? How does POLST help the patient? How does POLST help health care providers? Should the POLST be reviewed? If so, how often? If a patient has a POLST form and an Advance Directive that conflict, which takes precedence? Can I use a POLST form in California? Where do they use POLST now? How can I find out more about POLST? What does POLST mean? POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. It is a physician’s order that outlines a plan of care reflecting the patient’s wishes concerning care at life’s end. (top) What is the POLST form? The POLST form is a bright pink form for medical orders. Your health care professional may use the POLST form to write orders that indicate what types of life-sustaining treatment you do or do not want if you become seriously ill. The POLST form asks for information about: Your preferences for resuscitation, Medical conditions, Use of antibiotics, and Artificially administered fluids and nutrition The POLST form provides default orders that reflect the patient's wishes for use by emergency medical technicians, doctors, and nurses until further orders can be decided upon and written. (top) Is it required by law? The POLST form is voluntary and is intended to: Help you and your health care professional discuss and develop plans to reflect your wishes, and Assist physicians, nurses, health care facilities, and emergency personnel to honor your wishes for life-sustaining treatment. (top) Does the POLST form replace traditional Advance Directives? No. Although the POLST form complements your Advance Directive, it is not intended to replace that document. (top) What if my loved one can no longer communicate her/his wishes for care? Family members may be able to speak on behalf of a loved one. A health care professional can complete the POLST form based on family members' understanding of their loved one’s wishes. (top) Where is the POLST form used? The POLST form remains with you if you are moved between care settings, regardless of whether you are in the hospital, at home, or in a long-term care facility. If you live at home, keep the original pink POLST form where emergency responders can find it. If you live at a long-term care facility, the POLST form will be kept in your chart. (top) How does POLST help the patient? Documents a patient's wishes for life-sustaining treatment in the form of a physician order Streamlines transfer of patient records between facilities Clarifies treatment intentions and minimizes confusion about patient preferences Complements your Advance Health Directive Assists physicians, nurses, emergency personnel and health care facilities in promoting patient autonomy Optimizes comfort care of patients Allows periodic review and changing of orders as indicated by patient values and medical circumstances (top) How does POLST help health care providers? Ensures readily available information for health care providers about the patient's treatment preferences Provides a system for communicating the physician's medical orders for the patient to other care facilities Is an effective instrument that prevents unwarranted treatments and ensures that medically indicated treatments desired by the patient are provided Provides a practical way to assemble patient information on a two-page form Allows periodic review and changing of orders as indicated by patient values and medical circumstance (top) Should the POLST be reviewed? If so, how often? Yes. The POLST form should be reviewed and renewed by a physician periodically, if: The patient is transferred from one facility to another, There is a significant change in the person's health status (improvement or deterioration), and/or The patient’s treatment preferences change. (top) If a patient has a POLST form and an Advance Directive that conflict, which takes precedence? In most cases, the more recent document would be followed. (top) Can I use a POLST form in California? The California POLST form is now available for use throughout the state. Your health care provider can download the form and the California POLST Guide for Health Care Professionals from www.finalchoices.org. Proposed legislation (AB 3000) is currently under consideration in the California State Legislature. While this bill would not require that health care providers use POLST, it would require that all health care providers honor patients’ POLST orders. (top) Where do they use POLST now? POLST was originally developed in Oregon. There are a number of states, including Washington, West Virginia and New York, which currently have POLST in place. There are many other states that are developing programs at this time. For more information, visit http://www.ohsu.edu/polst/otherstates.shtml. (top) How can I find out more about POLST? In addition to the California Coalition for Compassionate Care web site, you can find in-depth information about POLST at www.polst.org. (top) Click here to download a complete copy of these questions and answers.

		This web page was last updated on 5/5/08.

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POLST Frequently Asked Questions