Oregon Hospice & Palliative Care Association and the Academy of Family Physicians Endorse the Removal of the Artificially Administered Nutrition Section from the Oregon POLST Form
In January of 2020, the Oregon Hospice & Palliative Care Association (OHPCA) and the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) joined the growing list of professional medical associations with their endorsements of Oregon's decision to remove the artificially administered nutrition section from the current (2019) version of the Oregon
POLST form.
As approved by the OHPCA Board of Directors on January 31: "The Oregon Hospice & Palliative Care Association (OHPCA) supports the elimination of the Section regarding 'Artificially Administered Nutrition' from the Oregon Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form."
'The Oregon Medical Board Report' Expresses
Concern about POLST Use at Medicare Wellness Exams
The most recent edition of The OMB Report cautions against the use of POLST in those patients who are "too healthy." Find the article on page 3.
Our Recorded Webinar Highlights What’s New in Oregon!
This webinar, recorded in January, highlights the recent innovative advances made and challenges experienced by the Oregon POLST Program, the Oregon POLST Coalition and the Oregon POLST Registry.
Advocate Talk Scheduled in Corvallis, Oregon for March 6
This workshop is designed to enhance your skills in supporting people, as they become more ill and frail. Attendees will learn about new POLST materials, recent developments and ways to help people talk about what matters most with their health care professionals and others, as they move toward completing a POLST (Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form. RSVP by Wed., March 4. Call 541.757.9616 or email: info@luminahospice.org.
Underutilization of POLST at Hospital Discharge
A recent study from Minnesota found that only 50 of 160 (31%) of hospitalized patients with a new DNR order were discharged from the hospital with a signed POLST form. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-05698-1
Does this leave us wondering how many patients with new DNR orders are being missed in the hospital discharge process by each of our health systems?
University of Washington Study Raises Concerns about POLST Concordance
Among patients with pre-existing POLST orders who were hospitalized within six months of death, 31% of patients with Comfort Measures Only orders received ICU care. This care appears to be discordant with their POLST orders. The study highlights the need for the work that we are doing in Oregon to ensure that POLST
orders are reviewed in the ED. Once patients are intubated, the decision to withdraw treatment can add to the emotional burden faced by families in times of crises. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.22523
