What is the difference between an Advance Directive and a POLST form? If you’re like a lot of people, you may know that you should have advance directive documents in place concerning your healthcare, but you probably don’t know what those documents are. For example, you may be wondering what is a POLST form used for? Do I need an Advance Healthcare Directive? Is POLST considered Advance Directive?
A question our attorneys get asked often by clients is what the difference is between a POLST and an Advance Healthcare Directive. For help with this and other vital Estate Planning topics, get in touch with our team today!
A POLST form does not replace an advance directive – they work in tandem. While all adults should have an Advance Directive, not all should have a POLST form.
Both provide information about treatment wishes but they give different information.
POLST | Advance Healthcare Directive |
| Voluntary | Voluntary |
| Medical Order | Legal Document |
| Completed by a health professional | Completed by individual |
| For unhealthy or those with serious medical conditions | For healthy, capable adults |
| First responders and professionals base action on this form | The agent named under the advance directive makes the decisions that result in the medical orders |
| It does not designate an individual to make decisions but gives advance medical orders. | An individual is appointed to make decisions |
| Depending on the State, agent named to make healthcare decisions in Advance Healthcare Directive can complete, change or void a POLST | The agent named to make decisions cannot modify the document |
| Specific medical orders are communicated | General wishes about treatment are communicated. |
| Healthcare professional is responsible for reviewing the POLST with the patient, or agent named in Advance Healthcare Directive whenever the patient is transferred to a new facility, or when there is a change in the patient’s medical condition | Up to the individual how often to review or update |
Is one better than the other? Most people should have an Advance Healthcare Directive. However, only those who are currently at risk, including advanced frailty, should consider a POLST.
An Advance Healthcare Directive is a legal document that allows you to specify your medical treatment preferences and appoint a trusted person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. It includes details about your medical history, values, beliefs, and end-of-life wishes. This document covers a broad range of situations, such as life-sustaining treatment, pain management, organ donation, and other medical decisions.
A POLST form is a medical order that is signed by a healthcare professional, typically a doctor or nurse practitioner. It is a portable medical order that outlines specific medical treatments that you wish to receive or avoid in the event of a medical emergency. This document is for people who are seriously ill, frail, or near the end of their lives.
While an Advance Directive is a comprehensive document that covers a wide range of healthcare decisions, a POLST form is focused on end-of-life decisions that require immediate medical attention. For instance, it may specify whether you want to receive CPR, antibiotics, or be put on a ventilator. It also provides information about your comfort measures, such as pain relief and hospice care.
Another key difference between the two documents is that an Advance Directive is a legal document, while a POLST form is a medical document. This means that an Advance Directive can be used in any healthcare setting, while a POLST form is primarily used by emergency medical services (EMS) and other first responders.
It’s important to note that while both documents serve important purposes, they should not be confused or used interchangeably. It’s recommended that you have both documents in place, especially if you have a serious illness or chronic medical condition. By having these documents in place, you can ensure that your healthcare wishes are respected and that your loved ones are not left to make difficult medical decisions on your behalf.
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Best, Jim
James L. Cunningham Jr., Esq.
Founder, CunninghamLegal
At CunninghamLegal, we guide savvy, caring families in the protection and transfer of multi-generational wealth.
