An advance directive records what a person would want; a POLST turns those wishes into medical orders. Because the orders are portable, they travel with the person between home, hospital and care settings.
Forms and programs differ from state to state, and the national POLST site links to each state's form and guidance.
Why it matters
It gives a seriously ill person more control over their treatment in a medical emergency, when there is no time to ask the family.
Sources
Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.
POLST where you live
The local guide on this, for each city we cover.
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tucson, AZ