POLST forms should be offered to residents with advanced illness or who are older or frail and who wish to set limits for the medical treatments they would receive automatically if an emergency occurred today, in their current state of health. 

• POLST is for someone with a serious illness (advanced heart or lung disease, cancer that has spread, or who is older and frail), particularly if they do not want all available medical treatments (like going to the ICU).
• If a person has decided that they do not want to receive CPR if their heart stopped now, in their current state of health, then they should have a POLST.

A Facility Code Status of Full Code instead of a POLST for:
• A person who wants to receive CPR if their heart stopped today, in their current state of health. CPR is what the emergency medical team will do automatically, without a POLST order.
• A person would want all available treatments (such as being on a breathing machine and going into the ICU) in some instances or under certain circumstances but not in others, then a POLST would not benefit this person.

Instead, a Facility Code Status of Full Code would be the better way to document their medical wishes. Once in hospital, medical personnel would consult the person’s advance directive and/or health care representative(s) for further instructions as to their care.

Note: Health care professionals are advised against the use of POLST in those individuals with stable disabilities who do not have a serious progressive illness that is in the advanced stages.

No. POLST (Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is always voluntary and cannot be required as a condition to receive care or transportation or reside in a long-term care facility. ORS 127.672

A POLST is not required for transport. Paramedics and ambulance teams will ask if a resident has a POLST so they
can honor a resident’s wishes that would be other than Full Code.

EMS, ED and long-term care facility personnel are required to follow the signed medical orders within a POLST until or unless they have information to the contrary.

Read more at Laws and Regulations related to POLST Use in Oregon.

POLST forms should be reviewed periodically and updated if:

• The patient is transferred from one care setting or care level to another (including upon admission or at discharge), or
• There is a substantial change in the patient’s health status.

No. The POLST is a medical order set for EMS and other health care professionals to guide treatment in a crisis. The Advance Directive is a legal document to: 1) Share an adult’s values and goals regarding care treatment in future states of health and 2) Name a person to serve as their health care representative. Read more by clicking HERE.

No. Only an Advance Directive may be used to appoint a health surrogate who can create or void an Oregon POLST form for a person without capacity.

Refer to the current Guidelines on POLST Use for Persons with Significant Disabilities who are Now Near the End of Life.

Note: Health care professionals are advised against the use of POLST in those individuals with stable disabilities who do not have a serious illness that is in the advanced stages. See the Oregon DHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services fact sheet on POLST use.