POLST

Welcome to the POLST Illinois website. POLST is a state approved form that allows people with a serious illness to receive the medical treatments they want and avoid the ones they don’t want in a medical emergency. POLST Illinois is a committee of diverse health professionals that educates Illinoisans and healthcare providers about the POLST process and supports patient-centered decisions about care.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has published a revised Uniform POLST form. To help educate stakeholders who use POLST, the POLST Illinois Committee has created an easy QUICK FACTS tool. We encourage you to share this document with health care professionals who need to understand, discuss and implement POLST orders.

Download the 2022 IDPH POLST form
Download the 2022 Revised IDPH POLST Quick Facts tool
Download the 2022 Revised IDPH POLST Form FAQ for Healthcare Professionals

EDUCATION ABOUT CHANGES TO THE POLST PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE!

You may be aware that legislation impacting the POLST form and guidance for using POLST in our state went into effect on 1/1/22. Public Act 102-0140 contains several changes that you will want to know about. We encourage you to take the time to look through the documents below for detailed information on the changes.

  • Quick Facts: This document can be used as a short guide for all healthcare providers. We encourage you to use this information for in-service trainings, staff meetings, etc.
  • Frequently Asked Questions for Healthcare Providers: The FAQ document can be used as a reference when healthcare providers have specific questions regarding the changes to the POLST program.
  • PDF Presentation: This PowerPoint can be used to give a detailed explanation of the POLST program changes for all healthcare providers. We encourage you to use this information as a compliment to the Quick Facts document for in-service trainings, staff meetings, etc.

If you would like to be added to our newsletter, please email us at [email protected]

IL Health & Hospital Association Webinar - POLST: A Reboot for 2022

IHA has kindly provided access to an Illinois Health and Hospital Association webinar on POLST, given on Friday, April 15, 2022. Please use the recording password: 8MpyupR3 to access the presentation.

Watch POLST: A Reboot for 2022

Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Ensuring that seriously ill people receive the treatments they want and avoid the treatments they do not want near the end of life.
The POLST decision-making process and resulting medical orders are intended for people of any age who are at risk for a life-threatening clinical event because they have a serious life-limiting medical condition, which may include advanced frailty.

POLST IL COMMITTEE

Supporting the professionals and organizations that provide high quality healthcare to people facing serious illness

Learn about POLST IL

POLST MODEL

Assuring that every patient’s treatment wishes are honored in all healthcare settings

Learn about the POLST MODEL

RESOURCES FOR PROVIDERS

Helping healthcare professionals honor their patients end-of-life wishes with educational materials for ACP & POLST

Find tools for healthcare professionals

INFO FOR INDIVIDUALS & CAREGIVERS

Educating Illinois citizens about the POLST Model and how it benefits people approaching the end of life

Find resources for patients and the people care for them

Latest News

ILLINOIS DEPT. OF PUBLIC HEALTH RELEASES POLST REGISTRY REPORT.

In December 2020, members of the POLST Illinois Committee served on a multi-stakeholder advisory panel helping the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop a report on the feasibility of a statewide POLST registry.

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NEW POLST LEGISLATION ALLIGNS ILLINOIS WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS.

POLST Illinois & numerous healthcare provider groups are supporting new legislation sponsored by Senator Sara Feigenholtz of Chicago to improve the POLST program for the citizens in our state.

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IDPH UNIFORM POLST FORM AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES

The POLST Illinois Committee is grateful to the Illinois Department of Public Health for its dedication to reaching the diverse citizens of Illinois. IDPH has posted links to PDF documents of the POLST form translated in 7 languages. These include Arabic, Chinese-Traditional, Chinese-Simplified, French, Hindi, Korean, Polish & Spanish. Additionally, POLST Illinois has offered guidance for using translated form versions.

Read More

Download the POLST Form

The POLST form is available in English and several other languages. To ensure emergency personnel can understand and follow the orders, it is recommended that the POLST form be documented, signed and displayed in English. The non-English versions of the form have BOTH the English and the non-English translation on a double-sided 2-page form. The non-English sides are for educational/discussion purposes only.

POLST Form (English)
POLST Form (Spanish)
POLST Form (French)
POLST From (Polish)
POLST Form (Hindi)
POLST Form (Arabic)
POLST Form (Chinese-Simplified)
POLST Form (Chinese-Traditional)
POLST Form (Korean)

Resources

POLST Form

Legislation

National POLST

Illinois POLST Annual Meeting

Resources for Patients

Resrouces for Healthcare Professionals

Have Questions? We are here for you!

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