POLST Empowers Patients
in Healthcare Decisions
Talking
about your wishes in a chronic illness or at the end of life is a conversation
that can be awkward, difficult and for some of us, one we would rather avoid.
But it’s a conversation you must have as an important and necessary part of
good medical care. You have the right to participate fully in all your
healthcare decisions, and this becomes especially important near the end of
life.
New Jersey now
has a new resource to make your preferences known called Practitioner Orders
for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST. POLST is a medical order form that
details your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment. POLST forms currently
are used in 42 states, and Gov. Chris Christie signed New Jersey's POLST law in
December 2011.
The
form is intended to be completed jointly by you and your physician or an
advanced practice nurse (APN). You can modify your POLST at any time. To access
New Jersey’s POLST form, go to www.njha.com/POLST.
Your
healthcare team wants to understand your wishes and goals of care, and filling
out the POLST form is one of the easiest and simplest ways to do this. POLST
can help you make meaningful personal choices regarding your care, and your
instructions will be honored across all care settings including emergency
medical services, hospitals and nursing homes.
You
should have a POLST form if you are:
- Seriously ill with
a life-limiting advanced illness
- Frail and weak and
have trouble performing routine daily activities
- Afraid of losing
the capacity to make your own healthcare decisions in the near future
- Living in a nursing
home or hospice.
Educate
yourself by talking with your doctor or APN about your options, and then
discuss your choices with your family. How do you want to live your life in the
time you have left? How much do you want to know about your illness and how
much does your family know about your priorities and wishes? What are your
goals in the next year or so? These are all issues you need to consider as you
determine your treatment options. Having a completed POLST form also will allow
you to make known any personal, cultural or spiritual practices related to your
care. Your quality of life during this time should be totally under your
control.
POLST
complements an Advance Directive and does not totally replace that document.
You may still need an advance directive to appoint a legal healthcare
administrator. It is recommended that all adults have an advance directive
regardless of their health status. If there is a conflict between the
documents, the most current document
will be followed. (more)
POLST can help you enhance your personal liberty at
the end of life, and it empowers you to make a clear statement about the
type of medical services you will receive among your end-of-life care. It's
up to you to take the initiative and express your wishes, and POLST will help
you do just that. Talk with your doctor or advance practice nurse about POLST.
source http://www.njha.com/quality-patient-safety/advanced-care-planning/polst/
