Sustaining Life vs. Resuscitation
07/28/2016
In recent years, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced a new Uniform Do Not Resuscitate Advance Directive form, which meets the national requirements to be considered a Physician Order for Life –Sustaining Treatment (“POLST”). This form was recently amended, with the revisions effective January 1, 2016
An advance directive is a written statement of an individual’s wishes regarding medical treatment made to ensure those wishes are carried out should the person be unable to communicate them to a physician. There are a number of state recognized advance directives in Illinois, including the power of attorney for health care, living will, declaration for mental health treatment and the do not resuscitate (“DNR”) form.
The DNR advance directive allows individuals to outline their wishes with regard to medical emergencies by directing the medical care they are given. Health care professionals and medical providers are required by law to honor an individual’s wishes that are communicated in a DNR form and are protected from liability for doing so, if they act in good faith. The original version of the DNR was released by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 2005.
The POLST is designed to improve the quality of care people receive at the end of their life. This new form differs from the older versions of the DNR form in that it addresses more life sustaining treatment options than cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”). It adds a greater level of specificity with regard to CPR, but also allows for information regarding a patient’s wishes with regard to intubation, placement on a ventilator and tube feeding. The form provides greater detail of the level of care an individual desires and under what circumstances and conditions an individual wishes to receive that care. It also is meant to travel with the patient and be recognized and honored by all institutions along the health care continuum.
This form is meant to be completed by anyone who is frail, has a chronic, progressive medical condition and/or is terminally ill. It is generally not appropriate for patients with many years of life expectance, even if they have chronic or disabling conditions. The form must be signed by the patient, witnessed, signed and dated by an authorized practitioner (defined as a physician, resident (second year or higher), advanced practice nurse or physician assistant). The form allows specific patient wishes to be translated into a physician’s order, and because it is a physician’s order, the form becomes part of the patient’s medical records.
Anyone seeking additional information about a POLST, should contact their physician or Lauren Evans DeJong.
An advance directive is a written statement of an individual’s wishes regarding medical treatment made to ensure those wishes are carried out should the person be unable to communicate them to a physician. There are a number of state recognized advance directives in Illinois, including the power of attorney for health care, living will, declaration for mental health treatment and the do not resuscitate (“DNR”) form.
The DNR advance directive allows individuals to outline their wishes with regard to medical emergencies by directing the medical care they are given. Health care professionals and medical providers are required by law to honor an individual’s wishes that are communicated in a DNR form and are protected from liability for doing so, if they act in good faith. The original version of the DNR was released by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 2005.
The POLST is designed to improve the quality of care people receive at the end of their life. This new form differs from the older versions of the DNR form in that it addresses more life sustaining treatment options than cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”). It adds a greater level of specificity with regard to CPR, but also allows for information regarding a patient’s wishes with regard to intubation, placement on a ventilator and tube feeding. The form provides greater detail of the level of care an individual desires and under what circumstances and conditions an individual wishes to receive that care. It also is meant to travel with the patient and be recognized and honored by all institutions along the health care continuum.
This form is meant to be completed by anyone who is frail, has a chronic, progressive medical condition and/or is terminally ill. It is generally not appropriate for patients with many years of life expectance, even if they have chronic or disabling conditions. The form must be signed by the patient, witnessed, signed and dated by an authorized practitioner (defined as a physician, resident (second year or higher), advanced practice nurse or physician assistant). The form allows specific patient wishes to be translated into a physician’s order, and because it is a physician’s order, the form becomes part of the patient’s medical records.
Anyone seeking additional information about a POLST, should contact their physician or Lauren Evans DeJong.