POLST
POLST, which stands for Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, is a document that reflects your wishes and treatment goals, particularly if you are seriously ill or have chronic conditions.
Is POLST Right for You?
The POLST form is especially useful if you:
- Live with serious or chronic medical conditions
- Are medically frail or nearing the end of life
- Want clear, actionable instructions for emergency responders and healthcare teams
Benefits of POLST
The POLST form offers many advantages if you are facing serious illness:
- Easily accessible to emergency medical personnel, caregivers, and facility staff
- Transferred with you across different care settings — whether you’re at home, in an ambulance, a hospital, or a long-term care facility
- Respects your medical treatment choices across all healthcare settings
- Reduces confusion among emergency teams, caregivers, and providers
- Guides meaningful conversations between patients, families, and healthcare professionals
- Avoids unwanted or unnecessary interventions during medical emergencies
Obtaining a POLST Form
Not all states have an active POLST program, but in most areas:
- You can get the form from your primary care physician or family doctor
- In many cases, the form is also available for download. You can obtain the POLST for California here.
Managing Your POLST Form
Once your POLST form is completed and signed by a licensed healthcare provider:
- Keep it visible: If at home, place it on your refrigerator or in a clearly marked folder near the entrance — where emergency responders are trained to look.
- Take it with you: Bring a copy whenever transferring to or from a hospital, assisted living, or hospice care facility.
- Update with care: Only a medical provider can make changes to the form, based on a new conversation with you or your legal decision-maker.
⚠️ Patients cannot make changes on their own. A provider’s signature is required for all updates.