National POLST Strategic Plan

Vision and Mission

Vision

All states have adopted POLST, resulting in consistency of process, improved patient care and greater patient control and direction over medical treatment. National POLST is the preeminent leader in advancing this vision.

Mission

Advance POLST through stewardship, education, advocacy, support for state efforts, and national leadership.

Five-Year Goals

1. Support states in implementing and maintaining POLST programs that comply with national quality standards.
2. Educate and train health care and other professionals about POLST and how it fits into advance care planning.
3. Build public awareness of National POLST and the role of POLST in advance care planning.
4. Educate and advocate for national policies, regulations, and payment systems that support quality implementation of POLST.
5. Strengthen the sustainability of efforts to advance POLST and the leadership capacity of National POLST.

Goal 1

Support states in implementing and maintaining POLST programs that comply with national quality standards.

• Objective 1.1 – Every state has a program aligned with National POLST. State POLST Programs and National POLST coordinate efforts and share resources to strengthen state, regional, and national effectiveness.
• Objective 1.2 – National POLST and the state POLST programs are invested in each other’s success.

Goal 2

Educate and train health care and other professionals about POLST and how it fits into advance care planning.

• Objective 2.1 – Health care and other professionals across the nation engage effectively with patients in advance care planning processes that may include the POLST conversation and documentation of patients’ wishes using a POLST form.

Goal 3

In concert with the states, build public awareness of National POLST and the role of POLST in advance care planning.

• Objective 3.1 – More people understand and value POLST – including the form as an outcome of a thoughtful process that depends on quality conversations with appropriately trained health care professionals – and how the POLST fits within the broader context of advance care planning, including the distinction between POLST and advance directives.
• Objective 3.2 – Public attitudes support advance care planning (including POLST) that provides an accepted process to elicit, document, and honor end-of-life treatment wishes.

Goal 4

Educate and advocate for national policies, regulations, and payment systems that support quality implementation of POLST.

• Objective 4.1 – Public policies and regulations support meaningful, effective advance care planning, which includes eliciting, documenting, and honoring patients’ treatment wishes using a POLST form as appropriate.

Goal 5

Strengthen the sustainability of the effort to advance the POLST and the leadership capacity of the National POLST.

• Objective 5.1 – National POLST has the independence, capacity, infrastructure, and systems needed to pursue its goals and fulfill its mission.
• Objective 5.2 – National POLST has diverse sources of revenue including unrestricted sources of support.