Difference Between Advance Directive & Polst

POLST stands for physician orders for life-sustaining treatment. It is commonly referred to as POLST paradigm since states that allow the use of POLST consolidate several programs into one. An advance directive, sometimes referred to as a living will, is a legal document that allows patients to appoint a healthcare representative who will act in a patient's best interest when the patient can no longer make decisions on his own. Advanced directives are accepted nationally; however, not all states use POLST.

POLST

• POLST Paradigm Program is a tool that seriously ill patients can use to communicate their decisions about the type of life-sustaining treatment they desire. Patients' directives are documented on a brightly colored form and placed in their medical record once it is signed by medical professionals who will honor their wishes.

Advanced Directives

• An advanced directive is a living will that individuals use to appoint healthcare representatives who agree to honor their wishes. This document is also used to provide instructions for healthcare providers to follow in the event that patients can no longer direct their own care.

Comparison

• The advanced directive is a document that contain the expressed desire of patients, but it does not have the same authority as a POLST since it is not signed by a physician. The POLST document is a physician's order that healthcare workers must follow. It is recommended that patients have both documents.