Making decisions regarding what healthcare interventions are wanted at
the end of life can be overwhelming. Having conversations about final
wishes can be difficult and painful. Making sure those desires are upheld
can be paralyzing for family members.
Advance Directives are documents initiated by patients, outlining the types
of healthcare interventions they wish for themselves You can customize
and print your Advance Directive at
www.cchwyo.org/AD.
A new law passed last year called WyoPOLST (Wyoming Provider Orders for
Life Sustaining Treatment), created a medical order form that is signed
by the patient’s provider, carried by the patient and acts as a
physician order in any healthcare setting. The purpose of a WyoPOLST is
to place a patient’s final wishes in an actionable medical order
that becomes part of the healthcare planning process and must be followed
by healthcare providers throughout the state. Sometimes called a Do Not
Resuscitate order, (DNR), WyoPOLST is a complement to Advance Directives
or Living Wills, and replaces the current statewide program called COMFORT
ONE©, which also gave providers direction on the patient’s
expectations regarding life sustaining measures.
Campbell County residents, particularly individuals who have irreversible
conditions, a life expectancy of less than one year, or who are frail
and elderly, are encouraged to have a conversation with their family and
healthcare providers regarding the WyoPOLST. Once the WyiPOLST form is
signed by a provider it becomes an actionable medical order in any healthcare
setting. The State of Wyoming and Campbell County Health suggest hanging
this yellow or gold form on the refrigerator door for quick access for
emergency responders. The emergency responders will make sure the form
travels to the hospital with the patient. It is also recommended that
patients take this form with them for a planned medical procedure or when
traveling.
Campbell County Health has been working on how the WyoPOLST will be implemented
in our organization for the last several months, and there is more work
to be done to clarify how the POLST is added the medical record, and how
to ensure that patients with a POLST are identified upon admission or
during treatment.
Additional information regarding WyoPOLST and the WyoPOLST form can be
found by visiting: