Get Dnr Consent

What patients should be offered a POLST form? The POLST form is not for everyone; a POLST form is appropriate for patients who are considered to be at risk for a life-threatening clinical event because they have a serious life-limiting medical condition, which may include advanced frailty.

An advance directive is a direction from the patient, not a medical order. In contrast, a POLST form consists of a set of medical orders that applies to a limited population of patients and addresses a limited number of critical medical decisions.

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a written order by the patient's clinician directing health care providers not to attempt resuscitation. Clinician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (COLST) is a clinician's order or orders for treatment. This may include limitations on treatment or medical interventions.

How to Order the National POLST Form. Visit your program website or reach out to your program contact to order POLST forms (www.polst.org/map). Forms are not available to individuals since they are medical orders that should be completed by providers.

Use a form provided by your doctor. Write your wishes down by yourself. Call your health department or state department on aging to get a form. Call a lawyer. Use a computer software package for legal documents.

Include your name, DNR status, where to access your written DNR Order, and an emergency contact number on your DNR tag. Provide your emergency contact with a copy of your DNR Order and your doctor's phone number.

The DNR guides Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers and can give EMS permission not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), whereas a POLST might include a DNR instruction regarding CPR, but provides more instructions regarding additional medical interventions.

How to Order the National POLST Form. Visit your program website or reach out to your program contact to order POLST forms (www.polst.org/map). Forms are not available to individuals since they are medical orders that should be completed by providers.

This is called a DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) order, often shortened to a DNR or DNAR.

The California POLST form is valid in California. If you are traveling to another state, it is a good idea to take both your Advance Directive and your POLST form with you. Both documents, even if not legally binding, will help health care providers know your wishes. How can I find out more about POLST?

A COLST form is a doctor's order that helps you keep control over medical care at the end of life. Like a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, the form tells emergency medical personnel and other health care providers whether or not to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of a medical emergency.

A POLST form is neither an advance directive nor a replacement for advance directives. However, both advance directives and POLST forms are helpful advance care planning documents for communicating patient wishes when appropriately used.