Can the Physician/Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) document replace advance healthcare directives?

The Physician/Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) document cannot replace advance healthcare directives because both serve different purposes and are designed to work in conjunction with one another. Advance healthcare directives are broader legal documents that allow individuals to express their wishes about medical treatment and appoint a healthcare proxy to make decisions on their behalf in the event they become unable to communicate those wishes. They are primarily about future care preferences and are typically utilized when a person is unable to make medical decisions.

On the other hand, POLST is a set of medical orders that translate a patient's healthcare preferences into actionable medical orders that healthcare providers must follow. POLST is intended for individuals who are already seriously ill or near the end of life, ensuring their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments are clear and can be implemented quickly in clinical situations.

Thus, POLST complements advance healthcare directives but does not serve as a substitute. This distinction is crucial for ensuring that patients' wishes are respected in various healthcare situations.