eNewsletter Archive

National POLST eNewsletters below highlight accomplishments, state and National POLST events, upcoming conferences and webinars, and specific national events. Click on any issue date to download, below. Want to receive the eNewsletter in your inbox? Subscribe now!

Title	Contents
2022 February	Idaho adopted the National POLST Form. Quality Indicator #3 released to help individuals & organizations conduct quality assurance for their own POLST activities. Research: Social Determinants of Health and POLST. Forum topic: How Does Your POLST Program Stay on Top of Legislation?
2022 January	Congrats and thank you to Charlie S.! POLST CDA Approved POLST Ethical Principles & Standards Guidance Research: Recent Systematic Review of POLST: implications for further research POLST EHR Guidance Updated Forum Topic: Looking for health care systems measuring ACP and/or POLST quality
2021 November	POLST in the 6 New England States (a case for the National POLST Form) in JAGS Webinar: Best Practices in Using POLST hosted by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) New review in JAGS – POLST and treatment intensity Resources Guidance for POLST Use within Disability Communities
2021 October	Consider Donating to National POLST! Tech Webinar on EHRs: How to Advocate for POLST Inclusion in Patient Workflows Simple Clinical Exercises Help Prepare Med Students for Advance Care Planning Don’t Forget Civil Monetary Penalty Funds!
2021 September	Making POLST Truly Portable Supporters and Resolutions Emergency simulations demonstrate frequent misinterpretations of POLST Forum topic: Reaction to 2021 Plenary Assembly
2021 August	Congratulations to Illinois, Iowa & Pennsylvania POLST Leaders! New POLST Map Webpage and State Directory! Research: Are We Getting What We Really Want? Forum Topic: Does Patient Self Determination Act require that we talk to all of our patients about code status?
2021 July: Tech	National POLST is helping to develop interoperability standards (HL7 CDA, FHIR) State of California commits 10M to California POLST Registry! Several Research articles related to technology (EMR, patient portals, telehealth)
2021 June	Alaska Adapts the National POLST Form Tech Webinar 3 of 5. June 15 – Interoperability: sharing POLST across systems JAMDA article POLST is More Than a Code Status Order Form
2021 May	National POLST Guidance on Severe Trauma released POLST Tech Webinar (May 18) – When someone dials 911: how EMS uses POLST POLST Tech Webinar 3 of 5 (June 15) – Interoperability: sharing POLST across systems. Palliative Care Education Needs of Internal Medicine Residents by Frydman et al. in American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine Oncologists in ACP: Getting by with a Little Help from Our Friends in Journal of Palliative Medicine
2021 April	National POLST Maps and Charts updated Webinar: Overview of POLST Technology Project Hickman et al.: Two papers about POLST and Goal Concordance Digital Media & Branding Webinar available on the Forum
2021 March	National POLST Maps and Charts updated! April 13 Webinar: Overview of POLST Technology Project Hickman et al. explore POLST Concordance in two 2 studies in JAGS Digital Media & Branding Webinar from March
2021 February	West Virginia adapted the National POLST Form. New York Times article emphasized the need for POLST Education. February 11 Webinar: Experiences in Re-housing POLST Programs. March 16 Webinar: Branding, Web and Social Media Tips for POLST Programs. Research study in Laryngoscope: EOL practice patterns in head and neck cancers. Research study in American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care: The Role of Regional and State Initiatives in Nursing Home ACP Policies. Forum Topic of the Month: POLST and Code Status.
2021 January	Join our 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge! Register for Webinar: Experiences in Re-Housing POLST Programs Watch Webinar: How We Adopted and Are Using the National POLST Form Evaluation of a Toolkit to Improve Dementia ACP EMS Online Medical Direction in Emergency EOL Decision-Making Forum Topic: Reminder to Plenary Assembly Members: Please review our draft policies!
2020 December	Register now for our Webinar: How We Adopted and Are Using the National POLST Form Watch the Webinar on POLST Legislative Challenges Rapid Implementation of eMOLST Using Telehealth in the COVID-19 Pandemic (NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery) Forum topic: How does your POLST Program stay on top of legislation?
2020 November	Check out our new Incentives and Quality Assurance Policy Webinar 11/18: Making POLST work when legislation is less than ideal POLST Concordance in Nursing Homes in Journal of General Internal Medicine Seeking input! Should we say “patient” or “person”? Your feedback still wanted on our draft Trauma Policy!
2020 October	National POLST partners with Naveon, adding videos to revised POLST website New Directory of POLST Programs on the National POLST website How COVID changed Advance Care Planning: Insights from West Virginia in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management Your feedback wanted on our Draft Trauma Policy!
2020 September	National POLST releases statement about celebrity video featuring POLST National POLST Patient Resources Improving Medical-Legal Advance Care Planning Forum Topic: Witness Signatures on POLST
2020 August	Non-English speaking use of POLST New Hampshire POLST Program adopts National POLST Form Register for NASEM workshops on Advance Care Planning Appropriate Use of POLST in the Outpatient Setting
2020 June/July	National POLST denounces racism AMDA resolution supports National POLST Form National POLST welcomes new Leaders! Updated National POLST Logo Information and Organizational Chart
2020 May	C-TAC webinar, AMDA podcast feature POLST during COVID-19 National POLST COVID-19 Resources page “A Video Decision Aid to Reduce Decisional Conflict in POLST Decision-Making,” coauthored by Woody Moss, in Journal of Palliative Care. Forum Topics: Updates to using Teleheath for ACP and DocuSign for POLST
2020 April	National POLST Resources relating to COVID-19 at www.polst.org/covid JAMA articles: The Importance of Advance Care Planning and DNR during COVID-19 Framework for Rationing Ventilators and Critical Care Beds during COVID-19. Forum Topics: Verbal consent for POLST Use of DocuSign for POLST
2020 March	Maine second state to adopt the National POLST form Annual update of POLST resources JAMA: POLST and ICU Admission among patients hospitalized near the end of life Forum Topic: Third party payors/insurers as partners with state POLST coalitions?
2020 February	Sponsor National POLST! New York Times piece “CPR, by Default” mentions POLST Webinar on National POLST form available online Devil is in the Details: A case for POLST registries webinar available online Research: Reducing discrepancy between Code Status and POLST orders
2020 January	National POLST introduces new logo and branding Nursing home advance care planning program expands Webinar makes case for POLST registries Health care professionals’ understanding of DNR Do communication interventions help patients understand DNR?
2019 December	EMS World features hospice and POLST relevant article Register for upcoming webinar —The Devil is in the Details: A Case for POLST Registries Study investigates Goals of Care conversations in the seriously ill across 29 sites over 3 years. Forum Topic: Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds — a unique opportunity for funding.
2019 October/November	States are starting to adopt the National POLST form. Webinar: Learn more about the National POLST form on Thursday, November 21. The National POLST map was updated in October. California’s POLST Electronic Registry Pilot: Lessons for all states. Forum Topic of the Month: POLST for patients receiving Department of Mental Health services.
2019 September	Inaugural National POLST Plenary Assembly held in May, 43 states represented First National POLST Form released Letter in support of artificial nutrition option on POLST forms published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Forum Topic: News about our communications grant.
2019 August	Multiple publications focus on POLST in various settings “POLST: Promise and Pitfalls in Skilled Nursing Centers,” by Karl Steinberg, MD, published in Provider magazine Article on POLST quality by Brazilian authors previewed in American Academy PC-FACS “Planning for the End of Life,” by Ray Fowler, MD, and Amy Vandenbroucke, JD, published in SAEM Pulse Multiple recent studies on ACP or POLST for the chronically ill who suffer traumatic injury A retrospective study by Dana Zive et al published in Prehospital Emergency Care Another study by Justin Kim et al, published in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management A third study by Jessica Ballou et al published in Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
2019 May	Webinar “Redesigning Patient Care Using eMOLST: One Health Care System’s Experience” by Christine Wilkins, PhD, LCSW Kimberly Paul, on Live Well Die Well tour, seeks contacts for cross-promotional efforts across the U.S. Brazilian Study on Interrater Reliability for POLST Orders published in JAMA Open Network. Forum Topic: Join the conversation!
2019 April	National POLST selected for Presidential Poster Session as American Geriatrics Society meeting Study published in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management: A tool to assess patient and surrogate knowledge of POLST Multiple National POLST resources updated, including maps, national program data Forum Topic: Learn about the Technology Consensus Project
2019 March	The U.S. Government Accountability Office published Advance Care Planning: Selected States’ Efforts to Educate and Address Challenges, describing Advance Directives and POLST in California, Idaho, Oregon and West Virginia. POLST Legislative Guide, created in 2014, to be updated, feedback invited. Journal of Palliative Medicine: Variation in POLST across the Nation, by Aluem Tark et al. suggests national standards will best aid the honoring of patient EOL wishes. Forum Topic: Nutrition on the POLST form.
2019 February	First National POLST Plenary Assembly meeting convenes May 13-14, 2018 Keynote from Respecting Choices features National POLST vision by Amy Vandenbroucke Study finds POLST effective in end-of-life care planning in UCLA dementia care management program. Forum topic: Patient stories needed!
2019 January	Physicians’ Views on Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care Conversations in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Update: Professional Guidance for the Intended POLST Population. “The POLST Paradox: Opportunities and Challenges in the Emergency Department” in Annals of Emergency Medicine Forum topic: Have you used our new Quality Indicator (QI) Tools? Let us know!
2018 December	Bud Hammes, PhD, honored for lifetime contributions to Advance Care Planning nationwide New guidance by National POLST Paradigm identifying those who are appropriate for POLST New POLST Toolkit for Quality Assurance and Quality Indicators “Changes Over Time in the Oregon POLST Registry: A Study of Two Decedent Cohorts” Forum topic: What is the biggest area(s) of confusion with your POLST form?
2018 October/November	Remembering Dana Zive, MPH, (1976-2018). Growth in National POLST reputation, appreciation with strong participation in conferences National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelinesupdated! “POLST Facilitation in Complex Care Management: A Feasibility Study” Forum Topic: Help us update the POLST Legislative Guide!
2018 September	EHR-POLST Integration Webinar on September 27 C-TAC 2018 National Summit on Advanced Illness Care, Denver, October 9-11. “Advance Care Planning: Advance Directives and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment” Forum Topic: AMA Recognizes POLST—CAUTION!
2018 August	Health Affairs blog features appropriate use of POLST New single-page format for State Laws & Regulations Grid Advance Care Planning and POLST: Promise and Pitfalls Forum Topic: National POLST Form project
2018 July	News: ONC Improving access to POLST documents report Resource: Conversation Stater Kits from The Conversation Project Research: Surrogate Preferences on the POLST Form (Massachusetts MOLST) in The Gerontologist Forum Topic: Use the POLST Care Continuum Toolkit as a training tool?
2018 June	New POLST Leadership announced! POLST: State Approaches to Registries webinar available online. Journal of Palliative Medicine: National Standards and State Variation in POLST Forms. Forum Topic: Media resources available for all POLST Programs!
2018 May	New national POLST Maps! Updated POLST State Laws and Regulations Comparison Chart. POLST: The Seven Deadly Sins NEW POLST Technology Consensus Project Webinar Series Starts May 22! Forum Topic: Revisiting the “Surprise Question”
2018 April	National Healthcare Decisions Day WEEK is April 16-22, 2018 Webinar Series: Bringing Advance Care Planning Conversations to Your Congregation. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners: Surrogate experiences with POLST for patients with advanced dementia. Forum Topic: Who can help translate POLST Forms?
2018 March	New National POLST Paradigm resource: POLST signature requirements per state. Journal of Palliative Medicine: Cross-Cultural Adaptation of POLST to Brazil. Forum Topic: Value of National POLST. South Dakota newly Developing.
2018 February	The National POLST Paradigm releases the POLST Care Continuum Toolkit! Arizona Geriatrics Society Journal issue dedicated to End of Life theme. West Virginia examines POLST orders resulting from NPs vs. physicians. Forum Topic: State Resolutions in support of POLST!
2018 January	A farewell to Hanna! What we accomplished in 2017; What we’re looking forward to in 2018! Karl Steinberg op-ed, “No DNR Tattoo for Me, Thanks.” Webinar 1/25: Discussing Patient & Surrogate Preferences on MOLST Forms. POLST orders resulted in goal-concordant care in 99% of cases in study. Forum Topic: Did you know we have a Conferences category on the Forum?
2017 December	Rebuttal to proposed POLST replacement (MOELI) published in JAMDA. Webinar: Insights into the West Virginia Registry OPTIMISTIC study, which features POLST, recognized as highly successful. “Are POLSTs the answer to the end-of-life care quality conundrums in cancer care?” Forum Topic: POLST Education providing CME/CEUs
2017 November	National POLST Paradigm Research Committee, renamed, appoints new chair. Webinar: Civil Money Penalty funds: a good potential source of POLST funding. Research study: POLST most effective and helpful tool in nursing home care. Colorado MOST study reveals high quality POLST use in heart failure patients. Forum Topic: Good potential source of funding: Civil Money Penalty funds
2017 October	Pew issues brief about Faith Community role in end-of-life conversations. Webinar: Integrating the Oregon POLST Registry with the Health Information Exchange. Clinical Research Trial: Goals of Care Intervention for Advanced Dementia. Forum Topic of the Month: Should POLST be used as a Code Status document?
2017 September	ACP billing code use exceeds expectations; Karl Steinberg quoted in news. National POLST Paradigm Conflict of Interest Frequently Asked Questions published Hawaii healthcare systems sees large increase in POLST usage Forum Topic of the Month: Funding Opportunities for health care leadership, healthcare policy, health and aging, etc.
2017 August	National POLST Paradigm website continues to grow! POLST and Code Status: One resolution Use of POLST and Quality Metrics in Patients With Cancer Forum Topic of the Month: Does CPR Require Choosing Full Treatment? Is a CPR-CMO order set appropriate?
2017 July	Health Affairs and AMA Journal of Ethics devoted July issues to Advanced Illness New National POLST Technology web page! The Quality of POLST Completion to Guide Treatment in Two States.
2017 June	Patient Choice and Quality Care Act of 2017 Free POLST Webinar Series continues National POLST Letters web page Allow Natural Death v. Do Not Resuscitate in Journal of Palliative Medicine
2017 May	Free POLST Webinar Series underway New National POLST Paradigm Appropriate Use Policy available online The American College of Emergency Physicians issues official POLST Guidelines Free full online ASA issue: Reforming Advanced Illness and End-of-Life Care
2017 April	National Healthcare Decisions Day expands to a full week for its 10th anniversary Register NOW! POLST Toolkit Webinar Series expanded, starts THIS Thursday, 4/6! “Lessons from Oregon in Embracing Complexity in End of Life Care” published in New England Journal of Medicine Patient and Family Engaged Care Discussed in National Academy of Medicine
2017 March	Recommendations to the Administration sent to Secretaries Price and Shulkin Multiple Policy Developments at the National Level West Virginia POST affects place of death for advanced cancer patients. Shared Decision Making in Palliative and End-of-Life Care in the ED.
2017 February	The National POLST Paradigm Office has moved! Learn about Payment in Palliative Care: CAPC Payment Primer and Glossary available. Two POLST articles in The American Journal of Bioethics
2017 January	National POLST Paradigm presentations at national conferences. Now highlighted online at our website: POLST and Religion. Measuring What Matters, a project of AAPHM/HPNA featured in JPSM.
2016 December	Tough Talk from Pitt Med Visualizing Health Policy National POLST Paradigm Web Forum and LinkedIn Group Journal of Palliative Medicine publishes POLST pilot data
2016 November	POLST Paradigm highlighted by The Pew Charitable Trusts – Wife describes how honoring her husband’s wishes allowed him to die at peace. Journal of Palliative Medicine: Advance Care Planning Codes – 10 Tips for Using Advance Care Planning Codes in Palliative Medicine and Beyond. The National POLST Paradigm Programs Map Page Nurse Practitioners as POLST signers – Research published; Video provides background and importance of research
2016 October	NPPTF Announces Revised Recommendations for Integrating Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Forms with Electronic Health Records Revised POLST Paradigm state-by-state legislative comparison chart available online Journal of the American Geriatrics Society publishes paper by Susan Hickman, PhD, on ACP and POLST use in nursing homes Journal of Medical Systems publishes paper by Dana Zive et al.: Implementation of a Novel Electronic Health Record-Embedded Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment System
2016 September	New National POLST Paradigm Website Launched! Newly updated POLST FAQs online: FAQs for Patients — and separate FAQs for Professionals — now available. AMA Journal of Ethics: “Overcoming legal impediments to POLST” provides legal perspective on POLST progress
2016 July	Personalize Your Care 2.0 Bill introduced JAGS Study compares POLST registry data in Oregon and West Virginia Letter to the JAMA editor explains evidence supporting POLST
2016 June	National POLST Strategy approved Working together: LA Times OpEd J Gen Intern Med artice: POLST use in CA nursing homes
2016 May	Doctors Fail to Talk About End of Life Podcasts You Shouldn’t Miss You can’t get what you want
2016 April National Healthcare Decisions Day	Great work POLST Paradigm coalitions have accomplished NHDD resources
2016 April	Be a Champion for National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16 National POLST Paradigm FAQ guide is available Age and Ageing article: End-of-life discussions in nursing home improve outcomes, reduce odds of dying in hospital
2016 March	National POLST Paradigm Conference a success; Future directions for National POLST Paradigm announced National POLST Social Media Guide
2016 January	Thank you and Happy New Year! A run down of our successes in 2015 IOM Recommendations and POLST
2015 December	Top 10 Myths and Facts about advance directives featured in the American Bar Association JPSM article: POST Forms more than advance directives associated with out-of-hospital deaths
2015 November	California making improvement towards a more supportive environment for EOL care Compilation of POLST resources available JPM article: Oncology fellows agree there is a need for better training in palliative care; little change in 10 years
2015 October	Distinguishing POLST from Death with Dignity statutes POLST: Doing It Better (video release) JAMA Oncology article: Advance care planning among paitents with cancer
2015 September	Fostering the conversation The role of guardians and health care agents in medical decision-making Parkinsonism Related Disorders article: POLST among patients with Parkinson’s Disease
2015 August	POLST Paradigm people in the news Catholic ethics and the end of life JPSM article: Timing of POLST Form completion and cause of death
2015 July	The Care Planning Act of 2015 Webinar recording: EMS’s Vital Role with POLST JAANP article: POLST, nurse practitioners, and nursing home residents with dementia
2015 June	Understanding the TRIAD VII Study on POLST National POLST Program Development Guide The Gerontologist article: Nursing home residents and POLST
2015 May	POLST featured in ABA Journal NY Times article: Voicing my choices Journal of Palliative Medicine article: Allow natural death vs do not resuscitate
2015 April	POLST featured in the New York Times NHDD and Older Americans Month IOM Recommendations and POLST
2015 April Lets Celebrate National Healthcare Decision Day	What are you or your POLST Program doing today?
2015 March	Advance care planning on PBS’ Frontline POLST Featured in New England Journal of Medicine ODHS alert: Administrative alerts for CMS CPR guidance
2015 February	2015 National POLST Paradigm In-Person meeting Oregon’s Understanding POLST video in Spanish Journal American Geriatrics Society article: Systematic review of POLST research
2015 January / 2014 December	California POLST Registry in Development Article explores misconceptions about POLST Foundation Center: Glossary for grantseekers
2014 November	POLST at the 2015 AAHPM Annual Meeting The legal aspects of POLST Public Policy & Aging report: Advance care planning tools
2014 October	Institute of Medicine report on EOL issues released Consultations during POLST Form revisions Journal of Palliative Medicine article: The effect of advance care planning on dialysis patients
2014 August/September	Reimbursement for advance care planning gaining traction PREPARE advance care planning education aid Ann Intern Med article: Decision aids for advance care planning
2014 July	National media reports on landmark POLST study in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Multi-lingual POLST materials Journal of the American Geriatrics Society article explores change in Advance Directive Completion from 2000-2010
2014 June – Special Announcement	Announcement of Journal of the American Geriatrics Society article demonstrating value of POLST
2014 June	National POLST Leadership Conference a success New POLST application forms Annals of Emergency Medicine article: A review of POLST for emergency medicine professionals
2014 May	POLST legislation sweeping across the country POLST “Lay Person” video Journal of Palliative Medicinearticle: Understandings of DNR and MOLST among EMS personnel
2014 April	New National POLST Coordinator National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) American Journal of Preventive Medicine article: Advance directives completion survey
2014 March	POLST is not a code status form Legislative resources Resuscitation article: POLST Form combinations in Oregon
2014 February	Deactivation of cardiac devices Kansas-Missouri TPOPP video Palliative Medicine article: Efficacy of a POLST-like Program in Singapore
2014 January	POLST.org Resource Library LaPOST Conversation Guidebook Annals of Emergency Medicine article: Use of POLST in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
2013 November	Endorsed program branding Goals of the Communications Committee Journal of Pain and Symptom Management article: Provider perceptions of end of life treatment preferences
2013 October	POLST at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Misrepresentations of POLST on Facebook Journal of the American Medical Directors Association article: Perspectives on MOST in North Carolina nursing homes
2013 September	Advance care planning legislation POLST experiences web page Journal of the American Geriatrics Society article: Adoption of POLST in California hospitals
2013 August	National media attention Use of POLST for individuals with disabilities Journal of Palliative Medicine article: Demographics of POLST use and outcomes
2013 July	POLST at the US Senate POLST stories submission page Palliative and Supportive Care article: When are MOLSTs completed?
2013 June	POLST Programs achieve milestone Principles for social networking Journal of Emergency Medicine article: Efficacy of POLST Registries
2013 May	End-of-Life Care Challenge Quality and Research Toolkit Journal of General Internal Medicine: POLST in Nursing Homes