Having a conversation
with a patient about end-of-life issues is an important and necessary part of
good medical care. POLST provides a framework for guiding the conversation,
making it easier to have the discussion, and therefore making it more likely
that a patient will express his or her wishes. In this way, POLST is more than
just a form; it’s a tool to help ensure that patients are making informed
decisions and that these wishes are honored across health care settings.
POLST involves a meaningful dialog between patients and physicians, and may also include other members of the patient’s care team. Depending on the setting, other trained health care professionals – such as nurses, social workers, or chaplains – may also be a part of the POLST conversation to address physical, psychosocial, and spiritual issues that often arise.