POLST & MOLST Information Hub

POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) and MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) are medical documents that communicate your wishes for emergency and end-of-life care. They are used when someone has a serious illness or is nearing the end of life.

• POLST and MOLST forms turn wishes into medical orders: Unlike advance directives, these documents are signed by a health care provider and followed by emergency responders, hospitals, and care teams.
• They are designed for people with serious illness or frailty: These forms are typically used when a doctor would not be surprised if the patient passed away within the next year.
• They provide specific guidance for emergency situations: This includes preferences about CPR, intubation, feeding tubes, antibiotics, and other life-sustaining interventions.
• Forms vary by state, but the purpose is the same: Some states use the term POLST, others MOLST, and a few use other acronyms, but all serve to document actionable medical preferences.
• POLST/MOLST complements, but does not replace, an advance directive: These forms work alongside your advance directive to ensure that your wishes are honored in urgent and clinical settings.
• They are portable medical orders: The form travels with you across care settings—home, hospital, nursing home, or hospice—and is meant to be visible and easy to access in an emergency.
• It must be signed by a health care provider: Usually a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant must review and sign the form with you. Some states require witness signatures.
• They can be updated or voided at any time: As your health or preferences change, you can request a new form or revise your choices with your provider.
• They are not required by law, but can be critically important: Having one ensures that emergency medical personnel know exactly what to do—and what not to do—based on your wishes.
• Talking with your doctor is essential: These forms are completed as part of a thoughtful conversation with your provider about your current health, treatment goals, and likely outcomes.

POLST and MOLST forms are medical orders that provide clear instructions about a patient's preferences for life-sustaining treatments. These forms are designed for individuals with serious illnesses or frailty and are intended to ensure that their treatment preferences are honored across different healthcare settings.