ED management : the monthly update on emergency department management
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A new study suggests there is a lack of consensus or understanding about what patients intend when they fill out Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms, and that this likely leads to patients either receiving or not receiving treatment contrary to their wishes. Investigators suggest more training on these issues is needed, and recommend that clinicians take the time to clarify choices during periods of critical illness. ⋯ While a national organization establishes POLST recommendations and sample policies, the documents themselves are established and regulated at the state level, along with training procedures. Experts recommend that hospitals establish quality control procedures to ensure that end-of-life-care documents are prepared and interpreted accurately.