What You Need To Know
A new harmonized policy on Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is in effect as of January 13, 2025. This network wide policy standardizes practices across Hackensack Meridian Health and, in accordance with the NJ POLST Act, ensures that the care we provide honors our patient’s preferences regarding life-sustaining treatment.
This new POLST policy follows implementation of our harmonized Advance Directive policy in June 2024. Unlike an Advance Directive, a completed POLST form is a portable medical order active in all care settings and part of a patient’s medical record.The policy is live in PolicyStat as of January 13. Key points to be aware of include:
- A POLST is a portable medical order active in all care settings, including the home. POLST is recognized and honored in all HMH patient care settings.
- In relevant (e.g. inpatient) settings, the patient’s code status and airway management orders are transcribed from their POLST to the electronic medical record.
- POLST is appropriate ONLY for patients who have a serious or life limiting illness, regardless of age, or those who otherwise want to further define their preferences for health care.
- The policy applies to POLST for adult and minor patients at all HMH entities and affiliates, including out-of-hospital settings (EMS, hospice and home care).
- A POLST is signed by the practitioner (attending physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant) and patient (or surrogate, if the patient lacks decision-making capacity).
- The NJ POLST form can be found here: Department of Health | Advance Directive | Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
- A POLST complements an Advance Directive and does not replace that document. An Advance Directive is a legal document that guides care when the patient lacks medical decision-making capacity. Regardless of health status, every adult is encouraged to have a Proxy Directive while adults who have specific preferences about medical care should consider an Instruction Directive (living will). Please refer to the chart on pgs. 7-11 of the education to review a comparison of Advance Directives and POLST.
Impacted physicians and team members completed POLST education as part of the Advance Directive learning module assigned in June. Please review this section of the education again to ensure awareness and compliance with the new POLST policy.
Click here to view a Tip Sheet concerning the new policy. Please help us spread the word by sharing with your colleagues and teams.