Rule change allows timely entry of POLST for home hospice patients
While Emergency Personnel honor POLST forms with verbal orders, a rule change was required to allow the Oregon POLST Registry to be able to enter forms with verbal orders. Effective October 13, 2017, POLST forms with verbal orders may be directly submitted to the Registry. The Oregon Health Authorityamended Oregon Administrative rules in chapter 333, division 270 relating to the Registry to better address the needs of hospice patients. This allows hospice and long term care to put a POLST form in place rapidly for those patients who have a pressing need.
Summary:
This rule change does not change standard practices regarding procedures for verbal orders; it simply eliminates the need to obtain a written signature prior to submission to the Registry.
Hospice staff can now proceed with submitting the POLST form with a verbal order directly to the Registry.
POLST forms with verbal orders are currently valid and honored by EMS in the field and this practice will not change with the rule change.
The rule change allows hospice staff to be able to submit POLST forms in a timely manner to the Registry. This assures access to this important information, if the form cannot be found at the scene.
Click here to view the POLST changes impacting hospice and learn to why timely POLST form submission to the Oregon POLST Registry benefits patients.
Upcoming Events
November 3, 2017: All-City Palliative Care. Mimi Patterson, MD, Medical Director, Franciscan Hospice & Palliative Care, Tacoma will present "Finding Strength in Every Day" at Providence Portland Cancer Center Auditorium. Click here to view the event flier.
November 3, 2017: Regional Palliative Care Conference "Advanced Illness & End of Life in Southern Oregon: Conversations About Palliative Care" in Roseburg, Oregon. Click here to view the brochure.
