How Hospitalists Use POLST to Facilitate Conversations About Care Goals
An article in The Hospitalist discusses how hospitalists can use Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) to initiate patient conversations about their care preferences, especially during serious illness. The author interviewed Steve Pantilat, MD, FAAHPM, among others, who says that "a POLST is solidly what hospitalists can and should be doing," as it helps patients express their treatment goals and that hospitalists can play a key role in ensuring these preferences are documented and respected.