Abstract

POLST is an actionable medical order signed by a qualified clinician that authorizes medical treatments that a patient chooses to receive or not receive at the end of life. POLST is a portable document that travels with the patient and applies across multiple health care settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities. When health care providers see the POLST form, they are expected to implement its instructions just as they would if ordered to do so by a qualified clinician. There are other documents that, despite having different names, serve the same function. These include MOLST and POST.