Advanced Directive POLST Form Guide: Utilization Tips & Comprehensive Strategy

End-of-life planning is a critical aspect of healthcare that ensures your medical wishes are respected, even when you can’t speak for yourself. One of the most effective tools in this planning is the POLST form, or Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment.

This guide, aims to help you understand the importance of the form, how to effectively discuss and complete it with your healthcare providers, and how to keep it updated to reflect any changes in your health status.

Article-at-a-Glance

• Understand the critical role of a POLST form in end-of-life care planning.
• Learn how to effectively discuss and complete a POLST form with healthcare providers.
• Discover when and how to update your POLST form to reflect changes in your health status.
• Find out how to integrate a POLST form into your broader healthcare strategy.
• Get practical tips for ensuring your healthcare wishes are clearly communicated and followed.

Unlocking the Essentials of POLST Forms

What Is a POLST Form?

Imagine you’re in a situation where you can’t speak for yourself. Who will tell the doctors what you want for your medical care? This is where a POLST comes in handy. POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. It’s a document that speaks for you when you can’t, outlining what kinds of medical treatments you want or don’t want at the end of your life. Think of it like a detailed game plan that your healthcare team can follow, ensuring that your wishes are respected, no matter what happens.

How POLST Complements Your Advance Directive

Now, you might be wondering, “Isn’t an advance directive enough?” While an advance directive is your voice in writing, a POLST form is a set of medical orders. It’s a more immediate, action-oriented document that emergency personnel can follow on the spot. Here’s a quick comparison:

Advance Directive: A legal document where you describe your healthcare preferences.

POLST Form: A medical order that outlines specific treatments you do or do not want.

Most importantly, you need both. They work together to give a full picture of your wishes.

Who Needs POLST?

If you’re seriously ill or at a certain age where you think more about the quality of life versus the quantity, a POLST form is essential. It’s not for everyone, but for those with chronic, advanced illnesses or frailty, it ensures that the care you receive aligns with your values and health goals.

Starting the Conversation: Tips for Effective POLST Form Utilization

Deciding When to Create a Form

The right time to create a POLST form is when you’re facing a serious health condition where you want to clarify your preferences for treatments like resuscitation, ventilation, or tube feeding. It’s a conversation to have with your doctor when the trajectory of your illness suggests these decisions could be on the horizon.

Choosing Your Medical Interventions Wisely

• Think about what’s important to you in life and how treatments might help or hinder that.
• Consider the benefits and burdens of each option. For example, would you want to be on a ventilator if it meant more time with your family?
• Discuss these choices with your doctor to understand the implications fully.

Remember, these decisions are about what you want. It’s your health and your life, so it’s okay to take control and make these tough choices. For more information, read our guide on advance directives to help you get started.

Role of Healthcare Professionals in POLST Form Completion

Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in the form process. They are there to explain the medical terms, help you weigh the pros and cons of each decision, and ensure that the form accurately reflects your wishes. It’s a partnership where your voice leads the way, and their expertise guides you to make informed choices.

Keeping Your POLST Form Current

When to Review and Update Your POLST Form

Life changes, and so can your health. That’s why it’s important to review your POLST form regularly, especially if there’s a significant change in your medical condition. A good rule of thumb is to give it a look whenever you have a major health update, like a new diagnosis or a change in treatment. Besides that, it’s wise to review it annually, just to make sure it still reflects your current wishes.

Addressing Changes in Health Status

Let’s say you’ve had a change in your health—for better or for worse. You need to make sure your form matches your new situation. This could mean changing the level of care you want to receive or adjusting specific treatments. It’s all about keeping the form in sync with your current health needs and personal values.

Navigating State-to-State Variations

One thing to keep in mind is that POLST forms are not one-size-fits-all across the United States. Different states might have different names for it or different requirements. If you move to another state, check in with your new healthcare provider to ensure your form is still valid or if you need to fill out a new one.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out Your POLST Form

Understanding Each Section of the POLST Form

When you’re filling out a POLST form, you’ll notice it’s divided into sections, each one covering a different aspect of care. You’ll find parts on CPR, medical interventions, antibiotics, and artificially administered nutrition, among others. It’s crucial to go through each section with your healthcare provider to understand what each decision means for your care.

Making Informed Choices about Life-Sustaining Treatments

As you work through the POLST form, you’ll be faced with decisions about life-sustaining treatments. Here’s where you need to be clear on what each treatment involves and how it aligns with your goals. For example, if you have a terminal illness, you might choose comfort-focused care instead of aggressive treatments. It’s about finding the balance that’s right for you.

Documenting Your Decisions—A Walkthrough

Filling out the POLST form is a careful process. You need to make sure that each box you check and each line you sign truly represents your wishes. Go through the form with your healthcare provider and take the time to consider each decision. Once completed, the form should be signed by both you and your healthcare provider to make it official.

Strategies for Beyond the Form: A Comprehensive Approach

Integrating POLST into Your Overall Healthcare Plan

Having a POLST form is just one part of your healthcare plan. It should fit into a larger strategy that includes your advance directive, your will, and any other healthcare documents. Make sure all your documents are consistent and reflect your current wishes. This way, you’re covered from all angles, and there’s no confusion about what you want.

POLST and End-of-Life Planning: A Holistic View

End-of-life planning isn’t just about medical decisions. It’s about your values, your family, and how you want to live your final days. A POLST form is a key piece of this puzzle, but it should be complemented with conversations with your loved ones, financial planning, and considering the legacy you want to leave behind.

For example, if you value spending your last days at home, make sure your POLST form and other documents support home hospice care.

Next Steps After Completing Your POLST Form

Where to Keep Your POLST Form

Once your POLST form is filled out and signed, the next step is to make sure it’s easily accessible. Keep the original form in a place where it can be quickly found in an emergency, like on your refrigerator or in your medicine cabinet. Inform family members and caregivers about its location. You should also consider giving copies to your primary care physician, your health care surrogate, and if applicable, your local hospital and nursing facility.

Communicating Your POLST Decisions in a Crisis

In a crisis, clear communication can be the difference between your wishes being honored and not. Make sure your loved ones and healthcare surrogate understand your POLST form decisions and can advocate for you if you’re unable to communicate. It can be helpful to have discussions about your POLST form choices in advance, so they’re prepared to ensure your wishes are respected during an emergency.

FAQs

What’s the Difference Between a POLST Form and a Living Will?

A living will is a type of advance directive that outlines your preferences for end-of-life care but doesn’t carry the same weight as a medical order. A POLST form, on the other hand, is a medical order that guides emergency medical personnel and other healthcare providers to offer treatments that align with your wishes. In essence, a living will speaks to what you desire, while a POLST form speaks to what should be done.

Can You Change Your Mind After Filling Out a POLST Form?

Yes, you can change your mind about your POLST form at any time. If your wishes or health status change, it’s important to discuss these changes with your healthcare provider and complete a new form that reflects your current preferences. Then, make sure to replace the old form with the new one in all the places you’ve distributed it.

Do EMS Providers Follow POLST Orders?

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers are trained to look for and follow POLST orders during an emergency. This is why it’s crucial to keep your POLST form in a location that is immediately visible to EMS personnel when they enter your home. It ensures they can honor your treatment preferences from the moment they arrive.

Is a POLST Form Legally Binding in All States?

POLST forms are legally recognized in many states, but not all. Each state may have different regulations or may call it by a different name, like MOLST, MOST, or POST. It’s essential to check with your state’s health department or a healthcare provider to understand the specifics of your state’s POLST program.

How Often Should You Review Your POLST Form?

You should review your POLST form whenever there is a significant change in your health condition, if you are transferred to a new care setting, or at least once a year. It’s also a good idea to review it if your treatment preferences change or if there is a change in your personal values or life circumstances.

• Keep your POLST form in an easily accessible place and inform others of its location.
• Communicate your POLST form decisions with loved ones and your healthcare surrogate.
• Remember, you can update your POLST form anytime as your health or preferences change.
• EMS providers are trained to look for and follow POLST orders.
• Check with your state’s health department to understand the specifics of your state’s POLST program.
• Review your POLST form regularly, especially with changes in health or personal circumstances.