What is the Difference Between a POLST and an Advance Healthcare Directive?

[@alysononoahu8702]

Wow, great information thanks

[@SnyderLawPc]

Thank you, Alyson! I'm glad it was helpful for you.

[@msbutterbeans]

Thank you so much for this video. It was very helpful to convince my stepdad that his advanced healthcare directive is a legal document without a doctor signature. He did call his doctor and ask him about the Polst and the Kaiser doctor said they will not sign one unless he had a terminal illness. Thoughts?

[@6155ish]

My concern, where is this form kept. If I am in a terrible car accident, and transferred to a hospital, that I have never been treated, how does the medical person access this form?

[@SnyderLawPc]

That's a very valid question and a great concern. Our clients use a Medical Emergency card that explains to the emergency room how to access the advanced healthcare directive and who their emergency contacts are. Additionally, the card will contain a QR code that connects to a video recording of the client speaking out their medical wishes. Lastly, similar info and links are put into the SOS app feature on their smart phones. That will allow first responders or emergency room personnel to access emergency contact and medical information when they find your locked phone (which will likely be on you)

[@TammysCoffeeTalks]

I don't see why anybody would need a polst really if you have an advance directive because it says all the same stuff and what's the point of doing an advanced directive if you need a polst on top of it Doesn't make sense Anytime I go to the hospital they ask do you have an advance directive they don't say do you have a polst?

[@SnyderLawPc]

A POLST works in tandem with an Advance Healthcare Directive. It is not one or the other. You are correct that there is some overlap, but there are some major differences: 1. A POLST does not designate healthcare agents to make medical decisions. 2. A POLST does not indicate how you want your remains handled after your death including being an organ donor, allowing an autopsy, or authorizing a burial or cremation 3. A POLST is actually a court order under California law which means that a doctor or the hospital could be legally compelled to follow your wishes even if they disagreed or your healthcare agent disagreed (or conversely successfully sued if they disobey). A healthcare directive is a legal document but NOT a court order. That means it could be misinterpreted, challenged in court, and hidden from the hospital. Sadly, there have been several instances where the serving healthcare agent does not produce the healthcare directive for the hospital to follow because they disagree with the principal's (the person who made the directive) decisions. 4. A POLST is a readily identifiable document (it's pink in color) that has a standard format that is written in language that doctors understand. A healthcare directive is a document that can take a few different forms, is not written in medical language, and is often long and confusing to medical personnel. The scuttlebutt is that the doctors at the hospital rarely read the healthcare directive and rely on the named healthcare agent to tell them what it says. Whereas, the POLST is a recognized by doctors, is short (1 page) and simple to read, has been reviewed by a doctor or PA, is in a standard format using words doctors understand, and is in the medical file (so it can't be hidden by an agent who disagrees with what it says to be done). Lastly, while anyone over 18 can have a POLST filled out, it usually is applicable only to someone who is terminally ill or frail due to illness or age. In most cases, if you go to a hospital for a surgery, they will ask you if you have a healthcare directive or a POLST and have you complete a POLST if you are terminal or frail as indicated above. I hope that helps you better understand the interplay between the POLST and the healthcare directive and why the POLST is a very powerful and necessary document even if you already have an advance healthcare directive.