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Governor Christie signed legislation on 12/21/11 that will enable patients to indicate their preferences regarding life-sustaining treatment. The law calls for the creation of a standardized Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form that is signed by a patient’s attending physician or advanced practice nurse and provides instructions for health care personnel to follow for a range of life-prolonging interventions. This form becomes part of a patient’s medical records, following the patient from one healthcare setting to another, including hospital, home, nursing home, or hospice. View the Legislation
The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is used in other programs, developed on a state or community-wide basis, having different program names, forms, and policies. To learn more about POLST in other states visit the National POLST Paradigm Task Force’s website.
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