Professionals in Aging

Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

The goal of the POLST paradigm is to effectively communicate the wishes of seriously ill patients to have or to limit medical treatment as they move from one care setting to another.

• Introduction to the POLST Form
• Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form
• Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, Spanish version

Inquiries on POLST can be directed to PAPOLST@verizon.net

• 2011 End-of Life Care Planning and POLST Education Series
  • Part 1: Advance Care Planning—Understanding PA Law
  • Part 2: What is POLST? The Pennsylvania POLST Form
  • Part 3: Practical Implementation of POLST in Care Settings
  • References and Web Sites
  
  
• POLST Paradigm Core Elements
  
  
• PA Department of Health Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Orders

• 8-Step POLST Protocol – A Guide for the POLST Discussion

• Guidance for Health Care Professionals in Completing the POLST Form

• POLST Education Powerpoint

• Information for Patients and Families

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Fast Facts and Concepts
  • #16 Moderating an End-of-Life Family Conference
• #23 Discussing DNR Orders—Part I
• #24 Discussing DNR Orders—Part II
• #65 Establishing End-of-Life Goals: The Living Well Interview
• #162 Advance Care Planning in Chronic Illness
• #178 The National POLST Paradigm Initiative

• Steps to Implement POLST
  • Advance Care Planning & POLST Process
  • Implementation Checklist
  • Policy Examples
    • Transition from Hospital to Skilled Nursing Facility
    • Long-term-care: Administrative
    • Long-term-care: Resident Rights
    • Senior living: Accepting forms from other providers
    • Hospital
    • Gundersen Lutheran Foundation’s Choices Related to Initiating Life-Sustaining Treatment
  • Letter Example to Inform Family Members or Responsible Parties
  • Letter to Inform Attending Physician
  • Milestone Chart

• POLST Brochure

• Who is the Pennsylvania Decision-Maker, Quick Start Guide

• Resources
• AARP Public Policy Institute: Improving Advanced Illness Care: The Evolution of State POLST Programs
• Oregon POLST
• West Virginia POST
• Washington POLST
• National POLST Paradigm website
• Recommended Book: Hard Choices for Loving People
• POLST Program Research and Resources
• Pennsylvania Senate Bill 628
• “Advocates praise Pa.end-of-life law, but want more protections”
  (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,12/05/06)
• End of Life/Palliative Education Resource Center of the Medical College of Wisconsin

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