POLST Statewide Initiative

Georgia POLST is here!
The form for the Georgia Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
(POLST) is now available on the Department of Public Health's website. To view this form, please click here. http://www.dph.ga.gov/POLST/

What is a POLST?
POLST is a set of physician orders that can be used by any healthcare provider in the state to carry out the medical components of a person's advance directives.

Who needs a POLST?
Generally speaking, a POLST is only necessary for those persons who may frequently be hospitalized and who have little ability to communicate their wishes with the health care team.  The POLST was initially developed for frail, chronically ill, institutionalized persons who were frequently returning to the emergency department for procedures, which may have been excluded in an advance directive.

Now it is used primarily for those who are in the last year of their lives with a chronic condition.

Can anyone use a POLST?Generally, yes, any person can ask their health care provider about a POLST and one can be initiated as part of the overall advance care planning process.

Does the POLST replace other advance directives?
No. The POLST is a set of medical orders which provides guidance to the healthcare team regarding medical interventions for care. The POLST is based on either a written Advance Directive or conversation the physician has with the person or their representative(s). The POLST can be a substitute for an AND/DNR order.

Can any provider/facility use the POLST?
YES! The beauty of this form is it is a universal form, which meets the Georgia statutes for AND/DNR orders and recent legislation provides the same immunities and protections for healthcare practitioners and providers as for following advance directives or an AND/ DNR order. The POLST form is intended to facilitate communication and ensure the wishes of the patient are met regardless of where care is being provided.

Is this form required?
No. This is not a mandatory form. However, the Department of Public Health has created this form according to the law and endorses the use of this form as a method of improving quality care, care transitions and communication. A Georgia POLST Collaborative consisting of the Medical Association of Georgia, Georgia Association of Family Practitioners, Georgia Health Decisions, Georgia Health Decisions, GHPCO, Georgia Hospital Association, Georgia State University Health Policy Center, Georgia AARP, Georgia Healthcare Association, Georgia EMS Association and many others is working on education and publication of materials to support the implementation of this form across the state