Physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST)

In some states, advance healthcare planning includes a document called physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST). This document also may be called provider orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) or medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST).

A POLST is meant for people who are diagnosed with a serious illness. This form doesn't replace your other directives. Instead, it serves as healthcare professional-ordered instructions — not unlike a prescription. A POLST ensures that, in case of an emergency, you get the treatment you prefer. Your healthcare professional will fill out the form. To fill out the form, your healthcare professional will use the information in your advance directives, the talks you have with your healthcare professional about the likely course of your illness and your treatment preferences.

A POLST stays with you. If you are in a hospital or nursing home, staff post the POLST near your bed. If you are living at home or in a hospice care facility, staff clearly place the POLST where emergency staff or other medical team members can easily find it.

Forms vary by state, but a POLST lets your healthcare professional include details about your care. These details can include what treatments a medical team should not use, under what conditions a medical team can use some treatments, how long a medical team may use some treatments and when the medical team should stop treatments. Issues covered in a POLST may include:

• Resuscitation.
• Mechanical ventilation.
• Tube feeding.
• Use of antibiotics.
• Requests not to transfer to an emergency room.
• Requests not to be admitted to the hospital.
• Pain management.

A POLST also states what advance directives you have written and who serves as your healthcare power of attorney. Like advance directives, you can cancel or update POLSTs.