POLST is designed to help health care professionals know and honor the treatment wishes of their patients, by allowing people with advanced illness to choose the type of treatment they would want when they reach this point in their life.
POLST is intended for people of any age who are seriously ill or have a life-limiting illnesses.
National POLST Initiative
Originally developed in Oregon in the 1990’s, 42 states including Illinois, are developing POLST forms and programs. Sixteen states or regions including California and New York have officially endorsed POLST programs. For more information on the national POLST initiative, please visit www.polst.org.
