Center to Advance Palliative Care

Nancy:
I've been getting around to various cities with PESI presentations and the states that have an out of hospital DNR passed in their state are implementing POLST. I was just in NY and it is legal there and they are using it in some areas. In PA they have a real push in the Pittsburg area and with good success and they have a great website. If you go to POLST.org the sample forms are listed as well as the states that are implementing it. The key is to gather all the providers in an area, invite them to a seminar on it and have a leader in POLST (states seem to have a person in charge of it...PA has the Highmark peron) explain what it is. Everyone in an area needs to buy in to it for it to work; SNF's, hospitals, assisted living, hospices. This is a time for competition to take a back seat and for people to work together for the sake of the patients who want their wishes honored. Here's another site: http://www.aging.upmc.com/health-care-professionals/resources.htm