Editor’s Capsule Summary
What is already known on this topic
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms have been recommended as a means to reducing unwanted care for patients with advanced illness.
What question this study addressed
How does the completion of POLST forms influence emergency department (ED) treatment?
What this study adds to our knowledge
In a sample of 26,128 adult patient, of whom 1,769 had completed POLST forms, individuals with POLST forms indicating limited treatment had lower ICU admission rates and shorter hospital lengths of stay than patients with POLST forms indicating full treatment. Rates of hospital admission and aggressive ED treatment did not differ according to POLST treatment preferences or POLST form completion.
How this is relevant to clinical practice
Although POLST forms may influence some aspects of ED and post-ED care, there is a need to ensure that emergency physicians are aware of their content in real time.