NEJM Letter to the Editor: "Lessons from Oregon in Embracing Complexity in End-of-Life Care"
Letter to the Editor by Susan Tolle and Joan Teno draws attention to low health literacy and how it may be more important than race in influencing decision making near the end of life. View the letter at www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsb1612511#t=letters.
New POLST Video in Spanish
"Taking a burden off your loved ones with the POLST Form" is an educational tool for Spanish speaking patients. After being diagnosed with cancer, Gladys shares her experience with using the Physician's Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) to choose some treatments and refuse others. View the new video atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=6vLPOrgvDXs.
The Oregon POLST Coalition recommends integrating a standard code status section on hospital transfer forms instead of using POLST orders routinely for those going to facilities. This is primarily an issue for patients going for short term rehab. These transfer forms would replace the POLST forms for patients who are not POLST appropriate and/or have not had a thoughtful goals of care conversation.
The Oregon POLST Coalition recommendations the following language be included in hospital transfer forms:
