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I am pleased to announce that the Pennsylvania Department of Health has released an approved form of the POLST (Pennsylvania Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment), the purpose of which was to provide a standardized form that would be recognized across care settings to honor the wishes of patients at the end of life. We have all no doubt had some exposure to the DNR orders utilized in hospitals and nursing homes, and of course we all encourage our clients to be sure that they have a health care power of attorney and living will to express their wishes and empower a family member or friend to speak for them when they could no longer do so for themselves. But, when the rubber meets the road so to speak, what is necessary is a physician order, and it is important that such orders cover more than simply resuscitation, but broadly reflect the wishes of the patient given their current condition in setting. This is the point of the POLST form. Act 169 directed the Department of Health to form a committee to study the desirability of such a form, and if such form was determined to be desirable, to draft such a form. The form is now available through the Department of Health website, and I have attached a copy to this post for your information.

Dr. Douglas Kupas, the Commonwealth EMS Medical Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and co-chair of the Committee, released the following statement:

"The long-awaited Pennsylvania Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form has been posted to the Department of Health website. This form uses the POLST paradigm but is consistent with Pennsylvania’s laws related to Advance Directives, Living Wills, and Out-of-Hospital DNR orders. POLST programs within PA that use this form will gain the benefits of using a standardized form that can be recognized across regions and health systems in the state. The form can be accessed from the DOH website at www.health.state.pa.us . It has been given a position of prominence as one of the “Quick Links” that can be accessed from at the top middle of the homepage. The same instructions and link to the form can also be accessed from the Emergency Medical Services section of the DOH webpage with the Out-of-Hospital DNR information.

I would like to thank the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Patient Life Sustaining Wishes Committee, the various POLST programs throughout the state, and many other individuals committed to POLST in PA for the tireless efforts that have led to this version of a standardized form specific to our state’s POLST programs."

I was privileged to serve on the Patient Life Sustaining Wishes Committee, and to work with leaders in Pennsylvania, such as Dr. Judy Black and Marian Kemp of Highmark and David Barnard, of the University of Pittsburgh in this effort.

Neil Hendershot of Harrisburg has written further on his blog at the following URL for those of you who want to know more of the details:

http://paelderestatefiduciary.blogspot.com/2010/11/pa-health-department-posts-new-polst.html

We are currently working on educational materials for healthcare providers, and after that for patients and families.

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Best regards,
Bob Wolf, Moderator

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