POLST form
Pronunciation: POHST
Also written as: POLST — Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment document that translates patient preferences into medical orders for seriously ill patients.
Full Definition
A POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is a standardized document that contains medical orders based on a patient's current medical condition and preferences for life-sustaining treatment. Unlike advance directives, POLST forms are completed by healthcare professionals in consultation with patients or their surrogates and create actionable medical orders. In geriatric psychiatry, POLST forms are particularly important for patients with advanced dementia, terminal conditions, or those at high risk for medical crises. The form addresses cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medical interventions, antibiotics, and artificially administered nutrition. Completion requires assessment of decision-making capacity and understanding of prognosis.
Usage
Usage note: POLST programs vary by state; some states use alternative names like MOST or POST.
In Context
- "The POLST form was completed after extensive discussion about the patient's preferences for end-of-life care." — Advance care planning note
- "Updating the POLST form became necessary as the patient's dementia progressed to the moderate stage." — Care coordination meeting