Honoring Patients Wishes at the End of Life

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Honoring Patients Wishes at the End of Life

• Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment

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Im 75 and I talk to people who are90 years old
and they feel the same way asI do. No
machines,no artificial stuff. Let the person
be.
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Objective

• Widespread adoption of POLST by 2012, with
  aninitial focus on nursing home residents.

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CHCF Focus

• Increase number and scope of community coalitions
• Bolster POLST Task Force leadership
• Standardize POLST implementation statewide

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Desired Outcome / Impact

• Patient wishes honored across settings of care
• Minimize patient / family suffering at end of
  life
• Minimize unwanted / futile care

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Ive seen the recoverycenters, the
nursinghomes and they havefeeding tubes
goinginto here.   You cannot do anything.Thats
what I worry about.   I dont want that.
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I had the do not resuscitate for a long time. If
you cant bring me back to what I am now, let me
go. I dont want to be no more burden to people
thanI am already.
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You have to be optimistic if there is hope, but
when there isnt, thats alright.   Then its
over.