Advance Care Planning (ACP) allows you to have control over the life-prolonging treatments you receive if you face a serious illness or suffer a life-threatening injury. One important part of that planning is an advance directive which allows you to name the person you have chosen to make health decisions for you and to give general treatment wishes, if you are not able to speak for yourself.

 

In addition, some people will also want to complete a POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment.) POLST is intended for patients with advanced illness where death is likely as part of the natural course of that illness. POLST is not intended for most people with a stable disability. The only time someone with a disability or significant mental health condition would be offered POLST is if they are facing their end of life or have a terminal condition in addition to their disability.

 

The POLST is a physician’s medical order based on your wishes that is required to be followed by all health care professionals in Alaska, including emergency medical services (EMS/911.) 

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The most important part of POLST is the discussion between you and your health care provider to better understand your condition, treatment options, and what kinds of care you want. It is important that you ask all of the questions you need to so that you fully understand your choices and how they will affect the care you receive. Your provider will take the decisions you’ve made about your treatment wishes and turn those into medical orders by filling out a POLST form. 

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The POLST form and patient brochure are available in English, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Samoan, Latin American Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Translations from the English form are for educational purposes only. The signed POLST form must be in English so that all health care professionals and emergency personnel can read and follow the orders.