Oregon POLST: Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment®
Oregon has served as The Founding POLST Program since the early 1990s, leading the way for greater POLST implementation.
What is a POLST?
It is a medical form that you may use to turn your wishes for treatment near the end of life into medical orders.
Who should have a POLST?
It is for a person with a serious progressive illness, such as advanced heart disease, advanced lung disease or cancer that has spread. It is also for someone who is older and frail and might not want all available medical treatments.
A POLST can never be required by a health care professional, care facility or health system.
Understanding POLST
Watch this simple 4-minute video to understand these medical orders.
Find the Information You Need by Who You Are. I am a …
Health Care Professional
Patient, Family Member or Health Surrogate
Researcher or Policy Analyst
Guidance for Health Care Professionals
What Patients and Their Surrogates Need to Know
Policies, Standards & Research
Health Care Professional
Guidance for Health Care Professionals
Patient, Family Member or Health Surrogate
What Patients and Their Surrogates Need to Know
Researcher or Policy Analyst
Policies, Standards & Research
Essential Information for Health Care Professionals
Patient Stories & Videos
Oregon POLST Program News
Essential Information for Health Care Professionals
Quick Video Review of Current POLST Form Essentials
Watch this video in under 4 minutes.
Oregon POLST Guidebook for Health Care Professionals
Downloadable copy (2023 POLST form version)
POLST: Guidelines on POLST Use for Persons with Significant Disabilities who are Now Near the End of Life
Downloadable copy (version 08.03.2020)
Office of Developmental Disabilities Services' Fact Sheet on POLST Use
Downloadable copy (version 05.24.2023)
Patient Stories & Videos
When Advance Directives Are Not Enough - A Story
POLST: When is the Right Time? - A Video
This 3-minute video shows the changes in Betty’s life. When she is healthy, she completes an advance directive. Later as she becomes seriously ill, she completes a POLST with her doctor.
When It is Not yet Time for a POLST - A Story
Cómo Comprender el POLST - Un Video
This Spanish version of the “Understanding POLST” video provides a clear, detailed overview of the Oregon POLST form without medical language.
Oregon POLST Program News
February 2026 Newsletter
Topics include: The Oregon POLST Coalition Decides to Rejoin the National POLST Collaborative – New Webpage Launched to Aid Nursing Facilities in Appropriate POLST Use – Link to one-page explanation of “Facility Code Status”
December 2025 Newsletter
Topics include: The Oregon POLST Registry Achieves A Major Interoperability Milestone – Oregon Nursing Facilities to Receive ODHS Approved POLST Educational Cards – Supporting Meaningful Advance Care Planning for Oregonians
December 2024 Newsletter
Topics include: Oregon POLST Coalition & Committees – Oregon POLST Registry Supports Quality POLST Use – Program Website & YouTube Channel Stats – In Memory of Terri Schmidt, MD and
Other Great POLST Champions – Research Paper Review
January 2024 Newsletter
Topics include: A Message from the Oregon POLST Coalition Chair & Program Medical Director, Dr. Christine Mullowney – Spotlighting Research Papers on POLST Use – Remembering a POLST Champion, Bill Early
November 2023 Newsletter
Topics include: Recognition of Service to Oregon POLST – Bill Hamilton and the Community Insight Committee – Susan Tolle’s new role as Historical Consultant to the Oregon POLST Coalition – 2023 Oregon Medical Association’s Presidential Citation Award to Dr. Susan Tolle
August 2023 News Alert
Announcing Dr. Susan Tolle’s planned retirement at the end of the year.
Quick Video Review of Current POLST Form Essentials
Watch this video in under 4 minutes.
Oregon POLST Guidebook for Health Care Professionals
Downloadable copy (2023 POLST form version)
POLST: Guidelines on POLST Use for Persons with Significant Disabilities who are Now Near the End of Life
Downloadable copy (version 08.03.2020)
Office of Developmental Disabilities Services' Fact Sheet on POLST Use
Downloadable copy (version 05.24.2023)
When Advance Directives Are Not Enough - A Story
POLST: When is the Right Time? - A Video
This 3-minute video shows the changes in Betty’s life. When she is healthy, she completes an advance directive. Later as she becomes seriously ill, she completes a POLST with her doctor.
When It is Not yet Time for a POLST - A Story
Cómo Comprender el POLST - Un Video
This Spanish version of the “Understanding POLST” video provides a clear, detailed overview of the Oregon POLST form without medical language.
February 2026 Newsletter
Topics include: The Oregon POLST Coalition Decides to Rejoin the National POLST Collaborative – New Webpage Launched to Aid Nursing Facilities in Appropriate POLST Use – Link to one-page explanation of “Facility Code Status”
December 2025 Newsletter
Topics include: The Oregon POLST Registry Achieves A Major Interoperability Milestone – Oregon Nursing Facilities to Receive ODHS Approved POLST Educational Cards – Supporting Meaningful Advance Care Planning for Oregonians
December 2024 Newsletter
Topics include: Oregon POLST Coalition & Committees – Oregon POLST Registry Supports Quality POLST Use – Program Website & YouTube Channel Stats – In Memory of Terri Schmidt, MD and
Other Great POLST Champions – Research Paper Review
January 2024 Newsletter
Topics include: A Message from the Oregon POLST Coalition Chair & Program Medical Director, Dr. Christine Mullowney – Spotlighting Research Papers on POLST Use – Remembering a POLST Champion, Bill Early
November 2023 Newsletter
Topics include: Recognition of Service to Oregon POLST – Bill Hamilton and the Community Insight Committee – Susan Tolle’s new role as Historical Consultant to the Oregon POLST Coalition – 2023 Oregon Medical Association’s Presidential Citation Award to Dr. Susan Tolle
August 2023 News Alert
Announcing Dr. Susan Tolle’s planned retirement at the end of the year.